my oncotype dx is 18

Hi fati, I am sorry that you find yourself here. From what I have read, your oncotype score is at the lowest end of the 'intermediate' range. Here is one article that suggests having a mammoprint done: http://knowyourbreastcancer.com/the-latest-what-to-do-if-you-have-an-intermediate-oncotype-recurrence-score/ Maybe you could ask your oncologist about this? You also might want to have each oncologist that you asked spell out clearly why he or she is or is not recommending chemo. What factors are going into their recommendation? It may be that one of the things they say will stand out to you as being an important factor that the other is not considering. You also might want to consider your own personality - if you choose not to do chemo, are you the kind of person who will then worry a lot that you should have done it 'just in case'? That kind of worry can be very tough on some people even if they never have a recurrence. In the end, nobody can 'tell' you what to decide, but once you make your decision, then you have to accept that you made the best possible one that you could with the information available. If you do decide on chemo, there are a lot of suggestions here that will likely make it easier on you. People react to it very differently - my SIL sailed through hers, but mine was very difficult.

My Oncotype was 14, so even with micromets in 2 nodes, I did not get chemo. The Oncotype report actually stated my survival rate would be LOWER with chemo! No brainer for me. Many factors play into the chemo decision. Age is one. I was 62 at dx. Don't know your age, but younger women face greater risk. Good luck!

Hi Fati.......

My score was 18 also .

But even before ordering the test my MO recommended these 2 options and said that they had the SAME reoccurrence rates

chemo + tamox or Zoladex + tamox

and my Oncologist told me that both gave the same results for my type of cancer . If you read about the ZEBRA trial it will confirm this . http://www.dslrf.org/breastcancer/content.asp?CATID=0&L2=4&L3=5&L4=0&PID=&sid=130&cid=421

Not sure if the link will work but the title of the article is Two New Studies May Change Treatment Options For Premenopausal Women

you can maybe type ZEBRA into the search field.( its a great article by Susan Love )........you can also google ZEBRA trial .

Zoladex is ovarian suppression with monthly ( or quarterly) injection for 2 to 3 years ...it shuts your ovaries down .....so you enter menopause . My MO said that the main benefit from chemo for us ER positive sisters was that it put you into menopause.

I am 47 so figured I'd enter menopause shortly anyway .......

When my MO finally received my oncotype dx score of 18 he said no chemo .....the side effects outway the 3 % benefit.

I felt the zoladex option as opposed to "tamox only" gave me the peace of mind that I was doing something extra ( that had the same reoccurrence rates as chemo ). If I couldn't handle the zoladex I could always stop .....and well so far so good .....!!!!

How old are you ????

I agree with Ms. Pharoah when in doubt get a second opinion. I don't know a lot about chemo personally but I have never heard of a doctor saying you could quit if you wanted to. Of course you can do anything you want about it - after all it is your life and your body.

My oncotype was 14  I was 61.  Went to several drs and all said no chemo.  Then Sloan discovered micromet and lymph invasion and said go for the chemo..CMF.  Chemo light as a preventative.  It would give me an extra 3% protection.  So I did it.

I would ask about the side effects.  I just read that CMF can cause bladder cancer!  It's all risk/benefit and it's really hard for a Dr. to decide, much less a lay person.  My onco at sloan never said she was right and the other drs were wrong.  She said they could be right.  there is no certainty in this.