Oncotype, Tamoxifen, chemo and LVI help

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Olive4
Olive4 Member Posts: 84
edited January 2018 in Diagnosed and Waiting for Test Results

I am literally going out of my mind! I cannot switch off! I am so stressed.

I am still awaiting the results from my oncotype testing on a 8mm IDC 100% positive ER and 100% progesterone positive. HER negative. Grade 2. There was LVI seen focally and also 2.5cm of high grade DCIS. SNB negative 0/3.

Of course like many of you ladies I am hoping not to be in the grey area of an intermediate score. If I am I am still not sure of going through chemo. I need to think if I come back in the dreaded intermediate range what I want to do. Right now I don't know!

One question I have is in such a highly positive hormone cancer is chemo really going to be that effective? Will the Tamoxifen track down any stray cells from the LVI that may have traveled and deal with those or is chemo the best way to deal with the potential of stray cells given LVI?

I have researched and researched and asked lots of questions from several doctors etc but still this wretched LVI remains a grey area.

Even if the oncotype is low there is still the issue of LVI.

Can anyone out there offer any insight into my questions?

I know some of you have had LVI and chemo and some not. Some of you have given me your experiences re LVI for which I am grateful.

I cannot though stop researching. It's hard to make a decision when even the 'experts' don't know. Maybe I will flip a coin! Sigh!!

I had surgery mid July and still I do not have a treatment plan. I am exhausted and it is consuming me.

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Comments

  • rozem
    rozem Member Posts: 1,375
    edited September 2016

    if you have a low Oncotype and no chemo (fingers crossed) you could also go an an AI which has shown to be more effective than tamoxifen. If you are pre-menopausal they would have to shut down your ovaries first either chemically or by removing them (I would suggest starting with chemical - shots before surgery to see how you do)

    as for the dreaded LVI - I will tell you what my RO said - he told me that he considers LVI equivalent to one positive node - that said with such a high ER and depending on your score, Hormone therapy will be your best bet in starving any cells that may or may have not gotten "awa"

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  • Olive4
    Olive4 Member Posts: 84
    edited September 2016

    Thanks for your reply Roxem.

    My onco has never mentioned about it being the same as having a positive node although I have read that before.

    He said it is another factor to consider but puts it below tumor size, hormone receptors, grade.

    I certainly will discuss the Al idea with him.

    At some point I need to feel less consumed by all this.

    Best wishes to you.

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  • Hankers
    Hankers Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2018

    Olive4 - Wondering what you decided to do for treatment.

    I had a lumpectomy for IDC 6 wks ago, hormone receptor positive, HER negative. No cancer in the lymph nodes. Clean margins. Oncotype 4. But some LVI. No chemo recommended and have been recommended for a study that follows post-menopausal women aged 50 - 65 who opt out of radiation. Am taking anastrozole. Would join the study (and thus forego radiation) if I felt the AI I’m taking would starve any cancer cells that got away, as Roxem suggests. Hard to get a straight answer on this from the docs.

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