Feel panicked about getting Oncotype results

Some people will say it's putting the cart in front of the horse, but I played both scenarios out in my mind. Needing chemo & not needing chemo. I started figuring out how I would manage work & family...........long story short, I didn't need chemo(oncotype 4) but I could have managed it if I did. Hoping your score comes back low. As for sleep, that was the only time I could quit thinking about BC. Hope you can get some sleep. Others have used sleep aids both prescription & alternative. Good luck

I totally sympathize, Florida, and I won't tell you not to worry or obsess or panic about it. If that's in your nature, that's just how it works for you (I personally hate it when people tell me not to worry!).

I will admit that I've played out both scenarios in my head, too, and I've even drawn time lines. Having the visual was NOT helpful, as it made brutally clear just how much of my summer and fall would be eaten up with treatment of one kind or another. However, facing the prospect was o.k. If I get good news I'll just go home and tear those pages out of my notebook with relief.

DO get something to help you sleep. You need it to heal and you need it for your emotional well-being. Like Coraleliz, sleep is the only time I can escape from this, even though the escape is all too brief.

How long until the results are expected? Please do let us know your score and your next steps. Good luck.

Chemo is no fun, but it's nothing to panic about. Truly. I'm the world's biggest wimp, and I made it through it. Worry? Sure. Panic? Nah. It'll be okay, either way.

I don't deal with those waits either; heck, I don't even do well waiting for my friends' results (have one waiting now). Just rest assured you will get through this no matter the result, and you will mostly likely feel relief once you have a treatment plan in place--chemo or not. (((((HUGS))))

So helpful to read this today. I am also waiting for my oncotype score.

My first appointment with the med onc is April 8. Do you think my BS give me the oncotype score, which is due back today at the latest, before I see the MO?

Trying to use this pause to take care of myself and rest. This is my first post.

Florida, if it helps any - you can usually wait a max of 12 wks between surgery & starting chemo (per my oncologist). Radiation I'm not sure about but I do know that there's usually at least a week between simulation and beginning of actual treatment and they do want you to be pretty well healed before starting. You CAN take the occasional day off but prefer to keep it to a minimum. so you MIGHT, either way, be able to make that trip to Boston.

BK, welcome to the board. Your surgeon MIGHT be willing to give you the results as soon as available. It probably varies a lot from one BS to another. I hope s/he will, and that it's all good news.

Florida - I was always a worrier too, but it was weird, when I received the diagnosis, I didn't worry any longer really.  I knew what it was and knew that whatever came at me, I was going to treat it as aggressively as possible so that I knew I did everything I could to prevent a recurrence.

My oncotype came back at 23 which is the grey, intermediate area.  After talking with my MO and he talked with his peers, we decided to go with 8 rounds of chemo every three weeks.  Has is been great?  Nope - but it is doable.

Now, when the worries and fears start to creep in, which they do, I just have to refocus my thoughts elsewhere.  It really is a struggle sometimes, but I don't want to live my life worrying all the time.  I just want to live me life.

Sleep is a great diversion.  If you can't sleep, try talking with your doctor about getting something to help you sleep or to help with the anxiety.  A few friends of mine took Zquil, I think it is called, which is over the counter.

Hey Florida -- I can definitely relate to the worrying at every stage-- I thought that once I had the oncotype back, the anxiety would drop as I knew what my plan would be.  In my case, it didn't quite work out that way as tamoxifen resulted in some side effects that I had to deal with involving a biopsy, had a lump on my tongue show up that needed to be removed and biopsied, etc., etc.  If I knew then what I know now, I would have tried to accept that the year(s) following diagnosis were going to be filled with a significant amount of uncertainty.  Perhaps the Effexor that I'm on to deal with some of the tamox issues helps,, but I'm trying roll with it more.  If you can, I would encourage you to talk to your doc or someone (support group) about figuring out how to handle the stress/anxiety/panic.  I think for most of us, dealing with breast cancer ends up being more like a marathon than a sprint.

Good luck!

when my onc gave me the score of 30, which is the very top end of intermediate, it was hard. I had tried to prepare and ask myself what I would do if I fell into the grey area. It's almost as if I knew that would be the case. I had a very good meeting with mo, who also relieved my mind by delivering clear results of PET/CT, so mets was highly unlikely.

In the end, I asked him what he would do in my shoes. He said he would go for it. There was only one other choice for an mo in my sparsely populated area, and I knew I wouldn't go to her, and therefore didn't seek a second opinion. But if I lived in a more populous area and had more choices, I would do that. Whether insurance paid for the so or not.

You need yo feel 100% comfortable with your mo. That's who your long term relationship is going to be with. And that means being comfortable with the nurses, office staff, billers and the rest. I got very lucky ... I am getting great care, have confidence, and trust. Good luck finding the right doc for YOU. Hugs, Kat

florida, make sure to ask for the full report notjust the score. I found seeing the graphs to be very helpful, especially if you are in the grey zone. It allows you to see the margins if error and where the benefit kicks in. Don't be shy, it is worth it.

Jackie,

You say you are doing well with chemo? Great!

I have not even had surgery yet, although my doctor ordered a Mammoprint test which is similar to Oncotype. My score was in the high area (it only gives high or low). I don't hear of many women having the Mammoprint.

The high results mean that I will have chemo. I am not understanding all this. Anyway, how have you been feeling? Are you able to do most things you did before chemo? And, it looks like you had quite a while between surgery and starting chemo. How was that decision arrived at? How was your BMX recovery? Range of motion and things like that. This is all so new and scary to me.

Thank you!

I was in the grey area and my doctor felt I should get chemo because I had lymph nodes involved.