Onco intermediate range..thoughts?

Aruba
Aruba Member Posts: 543
edited June 2014 in Stage I Breast Cancer
 Aruba Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 76 Post a reply

Hi ladies..I have a headache  but am placing this in different forums that I think I may fit.......I met with MO today ...Onco score is 26.  I still get confused looking at the graphs on the sheet but she explained that with hormonal that I will take, my chances of distant recourance are about 12% over 10 years and chemo would reduce that that about 4 %.  SHe is saying there is some benefit but did not seem to disagree that I want to understand about long term side effects etc.  The nurse came in and said  if I choose to go for it, I would get 4 tx of Taxetore and Cytoxen and explained all the SE.  So choice is mine..to head to Chemo or to rads.  Sounds like biggest help to reduce chances in order (after surgery) are hormonal, radiation and then chemo with chemo having the least amount of help with  reduction in recurrence in my case.  I know you all will say to throw everything I have at this, but when she tells me I may have long term neuropothy etc...i have to ask if the long term SE are worth 4%?  Bring it on ladies...i need to hear from you.  I am 53, post meno, nodes clear, 1.5 cm (told me if i was under 1.o cm there would be no chemo discussion), ER+, PR+, HER - (1+), No LVI. grade 2.  Why can't this be like appendicitis, if it is bad, you get it out and move on quickly :{ :{   

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited August 2012

    Hi there, my Onco score was lower than yours, I was offered chemo as I am young, 45. But , I had no node involvement and no LVI.  I met with 3 Oncologists for opinions. They were mixed. one said,.just do it, I am young, the other said not necessary, no benefit for the side effects and the other said it was up to me, would offer, but would also be fine if I didnt have it.  UGH!!!!

    I understand what you are going through for sure.  I ended up electing not to have it.  My decision maker was lack of LVI and lack of node involvement.  Either would have been a push for me to elect chemo. Also,this way, god forbid, if it ever came back, I'd have that first line chemo available to me still. 

    Its hard to decide, but they do say with er+ and pr+ the best arsinal is the antihormonals. Hormone positive doesnt repond well to chemo.  I'm not sure this helped at all, but I wanted to share my rational for chosing my tx path.

    Good luck to you.

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  • Aruba
    Aruba Member Posts: 543
    edited August 2012

    Bevin it helped alot. If i had score even to say 20 i would not do it, but at 26 i get scared that most would say no brainer to fo it. Only got 4 hours sleep last night. This is stressing me out big time. Thank you for your comments and hope you are doing well!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited August 2012

    Dear Aruba, 

    You may want to check out the main breastcancer.org site for some information on the Oncotype DX test.  

    We hope this helps.

    The Mods 

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  • Aruba
    Aruba Member Posts: 543
    edited August 2012

    Thank you Mods! I spoke with someone at Onco company (Genomic Health) and they were excellent! Since i had the actual results in front of me and had reviwed with my MO, they explained report in even more detail and answered all my questions! I feel much better and at this point heading toward not doing chemo. Will do more research before final decision.

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