Oncotype Results

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etnasgrl
etnasgrl Member Posts: 650
edited January 2016 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

Well, my results came in at 27.
I spoke with my medical oncologist for close to an hour yesterday, going over all the pros and cons of chemo, as well as all the benefits/risks. He also gave me a ton of info to bring home and read. (Not to mention my own notes that I took during the appointment.)
He told me that since my results are in the intermediate gray area, he simply doesn't know if the benefits of chemo outweigh the risks. Given my age, he suggested doing it, but left the decision up to me.

I went home and read through everything that he gave me. Then, I continued my research online. I also went to the Oncotype web site and studied all their graphs/charts. Something that was noted there really stuck out at me....."Chemotherapy offers no substantial benefit to those patients who fall in the intermediate risk area."
I could not get that out of my head. If I'm going to do chemo, I want to receive have a substantial benefit, otherwise it is not worth it to.
I will be honest, chemo scares the crap out of me. The side effects and risks are very real and can be horrible. (I watched my mother and best friend go through chemo, both had a very hard time with it.)
I spoke with my husband and several very close friends about this and came to the decision that I will NOT do chemo.
I called my medical oncologist's nurse today, to inform her of my decision. She called me back and told me that he said not having chemo is fine with him and that he supports my decision 100%.
I have to say that I feel good about my decision and I know it was the right one for me.

Next Tuesday, I have my radiation simulation. Finally moving forward....yay!! At the end of February, I meet back with my medical oncologist for a check-up and he will start me on Tamoxifen then.

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  • Englishmummy
    Englishmummy Member Posts: 337
    edited January 2016

    Etna's - That sounds like a sound decision. One that you feel at ease with, which is the name of the game. I am the same age as you and I thought exactly the same way, if I am going to have to do it, it needs to be for big gains....it is a relief to get a plan going and in to action, moving forward as you so rightly said. I have no problems with Tamoxifen after 7 mths, hopefully the same is true for you and you can begin to put this whole thing behind you. So glad that you feel so good. Hugs, Laura x

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  • bluepearl
    bluepearl Member Posts: 961
    edited January 2016

    I never got the oncotype test and it has somewhat bothered me, but my own research seems to support two things...size and negative nodes count, especially if your are ER/PR+ and her2-. Tumours 1cm or less do well without chemo except those that are triple negative or her2+. PR- also is a higher risk factor. That said, we must move forward because numbers are only numbers, and each hour is a gift whether we have had an illness, haven't had an illness or are presently fighting an illness.

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