Oncotype

Hi Angeldj,

I had a score of 19 and 17. They look at your age, under 60. Probably chemo. Over 50+ no chemo. But that means in 20 years it will have a high probability to matastisize to stage 4 and if your 60+ you will be over 80 and they figure you might die of something else, and spare you the side effects of the chemo. The reality is stage 4 cancer means you will be in treatment for the rest of your life. I believe chemo for me would be better tolerated while I am rather healthy than when I am 70-80 years old. I chose to do chemo against my MO's suggestion. I was 61 when diagnosed with bilateral IDC. You will have to do the hormone blocker drugs for 10 years with or without chemo. I also chose NOT to do the hormone blocker drugs. Because of the possibility of cognitive decline due to the loss of estrogen in your brain.I put all my faith in the chemo and radiation. I was also diagnosed as HER2+ and that would negate any geno type tests like Mammaprint or onca scores.. I was also lymph positive with extra nodal extension. 2/15 positive, one lymphnode was 2.6 cm.

My score was also 19. I chose no chemo for various reasons due to likely side effect concerns. I will say I am just over 60 and did not have any lymph node involvement plus early stage. Taking AI for 10 years likely. So far after 8 months on AI, I have experienced minimal SEs. Each of us has our own road to travel with the decisions however. I did feel better that my decision was backed by the recent TailorRX results just announed.

Angel - Chemo does not benefit low oncotype score. For me, there was less than 1.6 % difference in the risk of recurrence in 10 years if I took 5 years of Tamo. It may be different if you are young. How old are you? According to the new guidelines, you are still low risk even at 19. I am Oncotype 17, age 54 and did not do chemo. Will take AI for 10 years and hopefully they will have more treatment, if not a cure by then.

My score was 21, I was 41 at diagnosis. I did not do chemo, but I did not have any positive lymph nodes.

Good luck at your appointment. Ask all your questions and I'd say honestly, go with your gut feeling after weighing it all. Thoughts are with you.

Angel, do what you think is right. Don't be strong armed.

19 and age 48 is still a grey area, especially with the nodes. I had a 22 and am almost 50 (but with clear nodes)—decided against chemo after reading the TAILORx results. My MO was on board with that, more so than he was before the results, so you might be surprised.

Definitely report back your oncologists take. And don't let anyone rush you into a decision.

Hi ladies. What happens if someone decides not to go for chemo? Are there any insurance issues? Will insurance cover the treatment if there is a relapse in future

Hi Angel,  I had a score of 20, was 41 at the time.   I was on the fence, so I got the second opinion in the mammaprint which does NOT have an intermediate score.  It came back "Low risk" which was surprising, but I took it gladly.  The insurance didnt' cover it, but I was told the max I'd pay out of pocket was $500... worth it to have a second genetic opinion of the tumor.  I never have gotten bill - 2 years later.  I highly suggest people with intermediate Oncotypes ask their doctor to send a part of the tumor to Agendia's Mammaprint.  You will find out if you are Luminal A or B with their Blueprint test and also Low or High risk with their mammaprint (they do the suite of tests together).  It saved me chemo and definitely cemented my decision.