Waiting on Oncotype test...scared

Nimm
Nimm Member Posts: 34
edited July 2014 in Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results

I'm waiting on my onco test and just can't bare the thought of having chemo.  My biggest fear in life has been losing my hair and here I am facing the reality that I might need chemo and lose my hair!  Throughout my life dreams of hair loss were nightmares!! I'm so scared right now. I know I will do the right thing and have chemo if onco test is high. I have researched enough to know there are benefits (well at least I feel there are from what I've gathered) but am so afraid.  I know I can have a wig made, but have no clue how to go about it. I would like to know more about how others dealt with hair loss.

Thanks so much, god bless

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Comments

  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited June 2014

    hair was the least of my worries when i was told i had cancer.  I did lose it but it's back better than ever.

    I hope you don't need chemo because of the serious side effects of the toxins.  Best of luck

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  • farmerlucy
    farmerlucy Member Posts: 3,985
    edited June 2014

    Hi Nimm - Hoping you get a very low score but if not you might be interested in this thread about cold caps to save hair during chemo.

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/6/topic/7...

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  • NancyHB
    NancyHB Member Posts: 1,512
    edited June 2014

    hi Nimm.  I'm sorry that you're having so much anxiety and fear about losing your hair. I didn't mind losing mine, but my good friend had a really hard time.  Everyone feels differently about it.  You might want to check out the cold caps thread - it can be expensive and complicated, but I understand many women have used them and they're pretty good at preventing total hair loss.

    Good luck; I hope your Onco score comes back very low!

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  • Nimm
    Nimm Member Posts: 34
    edited June 2014

    Thanks for all the best wishes and your comments. I truly appreciate it.:)

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  • AmyQ
    AmyQ Member Posts: 2,182
    edited June 2014

    Nimm, If they are available in your area, Penguin Cold Caps allowed me to save 1/2 to 2/3 of my hair. It's virtually impossible to measure how much I saved, however no one knew, except family, I was getting chemo. Plus chemo wasn't nearly as terrible as I anticipated, at least not for me. I received a lot of pre and post drugs that helped me cope or helped to prevent the worse side effects.  Good luck and I hope you can locate Cold Caps.

    Amy

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  • solacetea
    solacetea Member Posts: 28
    edited July 2014

    I just met with my oncologist for the first time yesterday and he recommended the Oncotype DX test. He said he doesn't like to send people for chemo if it won't be beneficial, and if I would benefit from hormonal therapy only, that's what he'd prescribe. It's a holiday weekend and the results probably won't come until the week after next. 

    Honestly I don't care at all about my hair, if I have to have chemo to save my life, so be it. My hair has always been crappy (fine, thin, stick straight) so a change might be good, and I would never ever wear a wig. 

    It's hard to let go of the vanity, but if it's my life or my hair, the hair can go!

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  • tangandchris
    tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
    edited July 2014


    Nimm-It will be okay, I promise. The hair loss was very hard for me, which was strange because I am not a vain person or a person who spent alot of time on my hair and make up. When I started loosing my hair I cried and cried....almost worse than my mx in someways.

    But, once I shaved it off and went forward I was okay. I personally have not done wigs, I have done hats and scarves. I hope your score says no chemo. If it does say chemo, please come back for support to get thru all of this. ((hugs))

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  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited July 2014

    Solacetea- You might want to consider the RXsponder trial

    http://www.swog.org/Visitors/S1007/patients.asp

    It is for node positive women with low to intermediate oncotype scores. You are grade 1, so your oncotype probably(?) won't be high.

    The treatments are changing. it use to be that positive nodes meant chemo. The chemo decision was left up to me. I was given statistics,

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  • solacetea
    solacetea Member Posts: 28
    edited July 2014

    Thanks for the info! 

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  • Nimm
    Nimm Member Posts: 34
    edited July 2014

    I got Oncotype results!! 12!!! No chemo...dr explained that for me that says 0% benefit from chemo. I am very grateful that I do not need chemo. Although with rads and tamoxifen I would still be at 7% chance of recurrence which is still scary. I was at a .03 risk of breast cancer and yet here I am with breast cancer.  Trying to stay positive...and look at the good side of it all. Mixed feelings*

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  • tangandchris
    tangandchris Member Posts: 1,855
    edited July 2014


    That's all we can do Nimm....try to stay positive and look at the good side. But, don't think bad of yourself if you can't always be in that mode. ((hugs))

     

    oh and congrats on te no chemo!!

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