Hormone and Chemo Decisions

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tjh
tjh Member Posts: 469
edited May 2015 in Waiting for Test Results

My next appointment with oncologist is Friday. That is when I get my Onco DX results. So if the number is 19 or below All is good and only hormone. If it is high then chemo is needed. If it is in the middle how do you know or decide to do chemo or not? Do I have input on which hormone I take? My nerves are becoming frayed😨

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  • windingshores
    windingshores Member Posts: 704
    edited May 2015

    For intermediate scores, the best course of treatment can be hard to determine. I have been reading a lot about this in anticipation of having an intermediate score on retest. There are studies right now trying to help clarify this gray area. You could also ask for other tests such as the Mammaprint.

    If you are premenopausal it will most likely be tamoxifen and for postmenopausal women it tends to be an aromatase inhibitor. Within that class, you can choose which medication. I tried anastrozole, didn't tolerate it, and went on Femara, which is tolerable for me, so you may find that your choice is determined by what is tolerable.

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  • PistolMama
    PistolMama Member Posts: 56
    edited May 2015

    I don't know anything about this yet, but was wondering how your appointment went. Hugs!


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

    Your age, menopausal status, tumor size and grade, nodal status, etc., should all play a part in decision making if you fall into the intermediate range on Oncotype Dx.  Your oncologist should also weigh in and not leave a decision up to you - you are paying them for an opinion.

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  • tjh
    tjh Member Posts: 469
    edited May 2015



    My Onco score was 26.....almost exactly in the middle. After talking with all of my Drs we are going with 1 round of chemo. Not sure which drug but it starts with a T. Hormones will wait until I am done with chemo. Not what I wanted to hear, but onward...

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  • PistolMama
    PistolMama Member Posts: 56
    edited May 2015

    Sorry to hear that tjh! Glad you have a plan and hope you tolerate the chemo well. Keep us updated and post for support. Hugs!

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  • ml143333
    ml143333 Member Posts: 658
    edited May 2015

    Specialk is right...Your age, menopausal status, tumor size and grade, nodal status all play a part in the decision and a good MO will help guide you in the right direction.

    My Oncotype score was 23, pre-menopausal, tumor size under 1.5, grade 3, negative nodes.  After all was said and done, and my MO talked with me and my husband about everything and gave us recurrence chances with and without chemo but including hormonal therapy, we decided that we wanted to throw everything we could at breast cancer and went with 8 rounds of CMF every 3 weeks.  I could have done 4 rounds of Taxotere (sp?) but had to work throughout and chose CMF.

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  • tjh
    tjh Member Posts: 469
    edited May 2015

    Oncologist recommended 4 rounds, every 3 weeks of CT or 8 rounds every 2 weeks of ACT. She felt the benefits of ACT did not outweigh the heart risks so we went with the CT. Followed by 10 years of hormone blockers. Scared of the SE of chemo but we wanted best chance of no reoccurance so the hair will grow back.

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