Another Oncotype question

PLJ,

I definately wanted to know as much as I could, still do.  I had to go back and look at my Onco scores again.  My Onco ER was 10.8, original path report just said ER>90%+, My PR came up at 6.8, and my path said 30-60%+.  Ki-67 was approx. 20%, borderline.  My overall Onco ended up 20.  To me this sounded about the same results between Oncotpe and the orignial path report ...just using different scales.  So I'm guessing my miotic rate is what bumped up my Oncoscore?   How much weight do they give to it ?  Can't the rate also apply to healthy cells they see dividing?   I wish Genomics had more specific info for us.

I created a separate thread with this question before I found this thread, but this looks like the right place for this. I talked to my MO last week and asked him about getting a Oncotype Dx. I did not feel strongly about getting it because the 2 ILC tumors found in my breast were 0.2 cm each so I really don't think that qualifies for chemo no matter what the Oncotype # is. And i just had UmX on previously radiated breast, so won't be getting rads. Agreed to Aromatase inhibitor. But I told him I could not ignore the option of a PMX to manage risk in my left breast especially since this is not easily seen on mamo or MRI. My thinking is that a low Oncotype will be reassuring and a higher one will steer me toward surgery. I know this is not really what this test is designed for. But MO was sympathetic to my dilemma and ordered the test and insurance covers 100% so husband says, why not? Im kinda surprised he went with it , i wasnt realy pushing for it, just wanted to address the issue. Now i am wondering what i am going to do with this information when i get it especially if its high. Anyone have ideas, knowledge, opinion, data on this ?


I am ER 100% + PR neg, her2 neg. don't see a ki67 on my report but mitotic score is 1 (low). So I really don't expect a high score but from what I'm reading here, you never know for sure.

Purple32- that doesn't even make sense.

http://www.oncotypedx.com/

Try here.

Help withCancermath?

I have no clue as to where to put this topic, so here goes !

Can anybody help me out with the caqncermath ? I am 54 yrs old and my stats are in my signature. I skipped rads (clean margins, clear nodes) and have not yet begun the tamoxifen.

When I enter all this in, it basically says I will die one yr sooner (w/out any add'l tx!)  Though I'd LOVE to believe that ( who among us wouldnt ?) I know something is awry.

Can somebody help ?

Please PM me.

Thanks!

Purple32- I did the cancer math with your info.

without Tamox- cancer death rate 4.4% over 15 yrs and shortens life expectancy by 1 yr

with tamox- cancer death rate 3% and doesn't change the life expectancy.

How do you make a decision based on that.? I am not sure about homonals either. I got rid of the boobs, the ovaries are next and my recurrance score was an 8. Wish we all had a crystal ball.

Thx Dianarose.

How ? Well if I knew the cancermath was accurate and any better than a crystal ball  (i'm doubtful) I wouldnt touch the tamoxidfen!
In any case, I do thank you for taking the time to do it for me - I really appreciate the help.

What does NED stand for? I see it around these boards and just don't know what it means.

I still get confused about the difference between "survival" and "recurrence" rates. The reason my sister just had a preventative BMX (after a lump/rads/chemo treatment on a 2.5 grade 3 some nodes tumor 7 years agoat age 44)was because of finding out we were BRCA1 pos. She wanted to do everything she could to prevent a new primary from showing up. When I was found to be positive too, last fall, I had my ovaries out and began "increased surveillance." On my first MRI, they found a 8mm tumor in one breast. Surveillance didn't last long,eh? I had the BMX in Feb.  My oncotype was 38, my K167 was 43, my grade was 3, nodes clear. So my onc says we got a bad player very early.  Let us hope that chemo, hormones, and major surgeries do give me some protection, at least for a while. My sis took tamoxifen and aromatase and didn't have SEs from either. Hope that is my story... but I have to finish chemo before I cross that bridge. My onc is convinced the benefits of the hormonal treatments is compelling.

Interesting reading, I was not offered the Oncotype test and was told since the nodes were negative did not need the test or chemo.

MO gave me Arimi but I was so allergic to it that they cancelled it and all ER antagonists but I was 100% ER and PR positive! Has anyone not taken a hormone therapy and been ok?

Do you not need the Oncotype if the dr does not think you need chemo? Unsure how it all works.

The Journals that the drs read just finished research on a 1 million women study that proved hormone replacement therapy for menopause with synthetic estrogen and progesterone can cause breast cancer. tried to copy the first paragraph onto here but couldnt get it to work,I dunno how to work my own computer..let me go back to my cave.

Did anyone take hormones for menopause? I took bioid hormones for 5 yrs.

Do you not need the Oncotype if the dr does not think you need chemo? Unsure how it all works.

No, you dont actually need it, but I would like to have had my info. At Massgeneral, they do not order if if you are stage 1 , grade 1-period.

I did , however, just request a ki-67 be done ( at Path. now)

I am 54 and went thru meno at 41. Did not take hormones ( sure wish I would have popped the Evista!)  In any case, I took the pill in my 20s and 30s off and on and for very heavy bleeding, I was periodically oin different hormones.  I have tamoxifen awaiting me at the drug store. I dunno'.

According to NCCN guidelines, physicians and their patients may consider the Oncotype DX test for Stage 1 and Stage 2 ER positive HER 2 negative tumors with up to several nodes positive. Grade of the tumor does NOT matter. In fact, some Grade 1 tumors have intermediate or high Oncotype DX scores. The test was designed because they knew many ER + sisters were being over treated with chemo. The Oncotype DX test was able to determine who would benefit most from chemo despite their tumor grade. Likewise, there are some sisters with Grade 3 tumors who have low Oncotype scores. If Mass General is NOT doing Oncotype DX tests on grade 1 tumors, I would appreciate if this info can be confirmed because I find that hard to believe.



NED is "No Evidence of DISEASE."

Thanks Vorac.....!!!!! I thought I might be missing something!

Mari... You can contact your surgeon and ask that they send the tumor sample to the Oncotype DX folks so that by the time you visit your MO, you will already have the results. That's what my surgeon did.

Just be aware that the Oncotype DX is a very expensive test ($4000-$5000) and some insurance companies don't pay.

voracious

Both MGH and the  person at Genomics told me.  (Spoke to MGH again just yesterday!)
  Having said that , perhaps  it was *also* because I was clean and clear. Does this make more sense ???
In both cases, when  asked, I probably mentioned those 2 things as well in my " rant"  :
stage 1

Grade 1

1 cm or less

clean margins

clear nodes

yadyadyadada