Oncotype testing?

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findmewdw
findmewdw Member Posts: 20
edited February 2015 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

My 71 year old mom is supposed to start taxol and Herceptin tomorrow.  Snowstorm approaching however, so I think she will reschedule. I am so worried about her tolerating chemo. 

 We did not receive any oncotype testing. I have read on these boards about testing done that shows recurrent rates.   I have the hospital pathology report, which says histologic grade is intermediate.  Nottingham Histologic Score is 7, tubules 3, nuceli 3 and mitotic rate is 1.  Her tumor was 1.7 invasive ductal carcinoma.  She is Her positive and ER positive. The sentinel node biopsy was negative.  Is it too late to have oncotype testing?  Why isn't this done always?  Perhaps the info above is similar to this test,  I am still learning about BC and treatments.  Again, I'm just very worried about her tolerating Taxol.  I did get a second opinion and both drs recommended this treatment.  Thanks for all of the information that I have learned from these boards!

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited February 2015

    Oncotype Dx testing is done on ER+, Her2- tumors only. The test is not set up for Her2+ patients. I can tell you from experience with fellow patients, and my own 82 year old father, age does not necessarily preclude tolerance of chemo drugs. There is every reason to think your mom will do just fine - the Taxol and Herceptin combination is given weekly so the individual doses are smaller than other taxane therapy given every 14 or 21 days. Your mom's oncologist will monitor her closely with physical exam and blood tests to make sure she is handling this combination.

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  • findmewdw
    findmewdw Member Posts: 20
    edited February 2015


    Thank you so much for your response.  That is one more question that I won't have to ask the oncologist now!  I have learned so much from these boards!

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited February 2015
    I hope your mom does very well with her treatment. Take care of yourselves.
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  • findmewdw
    findmewdw Member Posts: 20
    edited February 2015

    Hopeful:  Thank you! Good luck to you, also.

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  • Nomatterwhat
    Nomatterwhat Member Posts: 587
    edited February 2015

    I am ER/PR+ HER2- and did not have oncotype test done. I had NHS score of 7 with no sentinel node involvement.  I also had a 1.9 cm DCIS along with a 7 cm ILC tumour.  My MO told me that I did not need an oncotype test because of my ILC and my first stop was surgery.  My ILC was sitting very close to the chest wall, so I was a candidate for chemo and radiation both.  I did not have Taxol, I had CT.  Good luck to your mom, I hope this helps. 

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  • LaLaP
    LaLaP Member Posts: 10
    edited February 2015

    Hi,

    I am 36 years and I had Onco type test done on my tumor as my medical oncologist wanted to know my score as that would determine if I would get chemo or not. The test basically shows the chance if recurrence. Mine was a 34% chance that it would return hence I will be starting TC chemo in a week or so.

    Your mom will be ok. I already had ABVD chemo at 16 for Hodgkins Lymphoma. I did ok then and believe I will do ok now.

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