OncotypeDX results and the results of the TAILORx study

i had a MX in 2015 but don't think I was given the OncotypeDX test. I was stage 1A, triple+ and grade 3, node negative and didn't receive chemo. This is good news for those with scores below 25.

yes, read that earlier today. Nice to have some solid backing on it.

Well, less of an intermediate grey zone anyway.

If you're under 50, there's still discussion to be had.

I thought I read your menopausal status is more a factor than your age. I might be wrong.

Ya, I remomved my post as I found the menopausal status details afterwards. lol I'm meeting with my MO this afternoon as well. Hoping my 2nd onco dx is finally back today! crossing my fingers!

Hi All,

Here is our Research News article regarding the findings:

Women with mid-range Oncotype DX scores can skip chemo, NEJM and 2018 ASCO Annual Meeting, June 4, 2018

https://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/oncotypedx-intermediate-results-skip-chemo

Just to add, I read the full report in the New England Journal of Medicine. They break down smaller intermediate ranges that are very informative to help make a decision for women under 50: scores of <10; 11-15; 16-20; 21-25; over 26. Worth a read! The statement that intermediate scores can skip chemo is very general to me. Read the report for yourself and discuss with your oncologist. Knowledge is power. My score is 21 and I am 51 years oldand feel good that I am going forward with chemo CMF to gain a few extra percentage points.

meow- That was actually one of the reasons I wanted to skip chemo with a score of 14! I was 100% er +, Tamoxifen was my best chance at fighting this.

taking tamoxifen while on chemo will stop chemo from working. Don’t know about AIs though.

Patsy like you my tumors had strong 95% er and pr negative (totally negative) the alarming combination my grade was low mitotic score 1 so not fast growing. I was never convinced chemo would benefit I went directly on AI no waiting around. I am 7 years NED. And yes I do feel it helped me more than chemo would have. My onco says it was essential that I was protected by AI drugs. I was post menopausal, as moth points out. If I were premenopausal chemo may have been a benefit, chemopause. The problem is there is no way to know how effective treatment is. In the cases where chemo is done before surgery you can get an idea if the tumor shrinks in size drastically.

I don't think it is reasonable to think chemo will get everything but it sure killings those fast growing cells.

Many oncologist rely on chemo if there is a high risk ancer some don't have any faith in homone therapy or don't think it works as well.

I'm not in human medicine, but in veterinary medicine and have a tumor that will most likely have a similar high intermediate oncotype. Each person must make an individual choice, but for me, who is far younger than you, I would want more than ten percent absolute difference before even considering chemotherapy and even then might walk away from it as chemotherapy will be life changing. While chemotherapy is and can be lifesaving, it is not a benign regime but has its own effects on morbidity and even mortality down the line. It also is most effective against rapidly dividing cells. Unfortunately with more slowly dividing cells, it kills the dangerous cells at no better rate than it kills normal, healthy cells. As I understand the Tailorx study, those of us who fall in the intermediate range will have a 10-15% chance of recurrence with hormone blockers no matter the currently other available therapies. I, of course, prefer to think of it as 85%-90% chance I'm cured, and I then look at the small lifestyle changes that may or may not improve my odds by 2-3% but have no down side: normal BMI, intense exercise daily, a shopping cart heavy with fruits and vegetables, no processed foods, no alcohol, and absolutely no smoking.. Certainly the scentific literature suggests these changes decrease recurrence, but I got the blasted cancer with a healthy lifestyle. There are no guarantees in this world. Best of luck with your choice.

Patsy, what about doing the Mammaprint - it's another genomic test but gives a binary answer to the chemo question.

PatsyKB- uggh! Decisions...all awful choices that we have to make. No one can really answer them for you though. You have to weigh your risk tolerance and what decision you can live with. If you don’t do chemo and have a recurrence, will you be angrier than if you do chemo and suffer long term effects? There are no guarantees even with chemo, which you already know.

I think once you settle on the right choice, you will be at peace with it. I think so many of us make ourselves crazy with the “what ifs”. A second opinion doesn’t hurt and may help steer you. Good luck.

Patsy - I made the same choice. Will start hormonal early July when I come back from a trip. Probably AI since I am probably post menopausal. I had Oncotype 17. Enjoy your life!