Biotheranostics

Hi ricksgirl!

Until you get responses from other members, here's what we have about Breast Cancer Index Test in our main site.

Hope this helps!

The Mods

There are two components of the BCI test that both need to be considered when determining what to do with the information provided by the test results. BCI provides a prognostic and predictive result. The BCI test is indeed to determine whether to continue anti-hormonal therapy beyond 5 years. The prognostic aspect is your risk of recurrence after 5 years of anti-hormonal therapy, based on an assay from your original tumor material. The predictive aspect is whether you will derive benefit from continuing anti-hormonal - and this is an important consideration because if you are one of the majority of patients, about 95%, who are unlikely to benefit, it is important to recognize that continuing may do more harm than good due to side effects. I think using the BCI result most effectively requires a combination of personal risk tolerance, your individual clinical characteristics (nodal status, tumor size, grade, Her2 status, etc.), your side effects to date, and the potential for deleterious effects from continued anti-hormonals.

For purposes of full disclosure - my BCI result was high risk of recurrence, but low benefit from anti-hormonals, this combination represents about 10% of alltest results. My oncologist has asked me to continue as long I can, I am in year 6, because low benefit is not necessarily zero benefit. I was osteopenic prior to diagnosis and I do receive Prolia.

peregrine - my ER was 96%, I don't think the percentage of hormonal receptors is necessarily linked to whether the drugs will provide recurrence prevention beyond five years. This test is an assay - looking at a specific set of genes that determines the risk and reward. I had a measurable loss of bone density after chemo and the first six months of letrozole. I had an accurate baseline with a DEXA same day as mammo/US that led to diagnosis. Prolia has restored my BMD to normal

Thank you. I'm going to go pick up all my initials pathology results, as it seems I have lost mine (on purpose, maybe?), so I'll refresh that info. Also, I look at everything ya'll have been through, and throughout my chemo and everything else, I was never once sent for any additional testing. No CT's, no PETs, no nothing. I don't even know what a DEXA is. I know from previously working in a radiology department, that I registered many a people with different kinds of cancers and they were all coming in for 3 or 6 month follow-ups with these tests. The only thing I had to do was an ECHO before each chemo. Is it odd that I never was asked to do any of these other things? My original dx was HER2+, no lymph nodes affected. I had a uni mastectomy, chemo, and now Tamoxifen, and that's it.

Yes, Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin. I really didn't have any trouble with anything, until I started the Tamoxifen. I have unbelievable leg and foot cramps, hand cramps, my fingernails break at the brush of a feather, all the way down till they bleed (when I can actually grow them out, that is). My skin is soooo dry that nothing seems to help it. And of course, very thin hair. My onc said these are all Tamoxifen related. There is also another side effect that is just too personal to publish, but I'm sure you know what it is ! It's something my onc said could be aided by going to a gyno and having testosterone pellets placed "up there". I really can't think of anything worse. My hands look all wrinkly and dry all the time. I am hot ALL THE TIME. Even if it's 30 degrees outside and I have the heat on to keep the house warm, I sleep with 2 fans blowing on me. This is all why I was so hoping to get to come off it. I know it all sounds so petty, but it's gone on sooooo long !

Thanks, I'll try that. Besides, a nice cup of tea I should be having, anyway. Unfortunately, I had to go on anti-depressants BEFORE this event was even in the picture, so..........