Oncotype rx 19 - Chemo or no chemp

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Julie1973
Julie1973 Member Posts: 11
edited June 2018 in IDC (Invasive Ductal Carcinoma)

This is my second time around 8 years later. Besides the complications to my lumpectomy I decided before everything I did not want to do chemo again. I did ACT(H) 7+years ago and cannot bring myself to go through it again. This time around no node involvement and my tumor was 5mm. I'm 6 weeks lumpectomy (still healing from post op infection) and waiting to be cleared from surgeon to start radiation. I'm 44 and mentally cannot go through this again. What were your scores and decisions. Just looking for some advice...of course my family says do it.

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited June 2018

    Doesn't sound like chemo killed everything the first time. Her2+ but very small 5mm may be ask to get on AI drugs, er and pr positive are you still taking tamoxifen? Were you on tamoxifen before this second occurence?

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  • Julie1973
    Julie1973 Member Posts: 11
    edited June 2018

    The second occurrence was ER+ PR+ HER - and no I stopped tamoxifen on my own. They talked about shutting my ovaries down and going on an AI too.

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  • Gully
    Gully Member Posts: 268
    edited June 2018

    First of all so sorry you are back here again. I don't blame you at all for not wanting to go through all of that again! You are so young still.......I had bilateral BC at 45 with an oncotype of 5 on one side and 19 on the other.....We decided on TC X 4 because of my age and two cancers at once, I think they were on the aggressive treatment side. But that being said...with the new TAILOR x ranges for oncotypes for those under 50 It would have been easier to choose this treatment. Bottom line in light of those new ranges I am glad I chose to do it. Its never an easy decision in that dreaded gray area. Good luck to you and hang in there!

    Gully

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited June 2018

    Yes I would try taking hormone treatment. Some cancer cells can be drug resistant not sure if that happened to you. 5mm is small and being er+ pr+ her2- I wouldn't do chemo, hormone therapy sounds right. I have read many articles on taking tamoxifen vs aromatese inhibitors, one conclusion stands out AI better for er+pr-, still about the same results for er+ pr+.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited June 2018

    Chemo is a decision you'll have to make; I've done it twice, and found it easier the second time, but my oncotype was 40, so it was a no brainer. I think you can make a list of pros/cons, and look at it for a few days to help you decide. There is no right or wrong answer. Do what feels right to YOU.

    Either way, ovarian suppression and an AI sound like the biggest thing to keep this beast away for good. Tamoxifen completely failed me.


    Sorry you're dealing with it again. Physically, it was easier the second time. Mentally, it was exponentially harder.

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited June 2018

    I was reading someone else stats. Noticed you are grade 3, I still think oncodx probably can't be done with a 5 mm tumor.

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  • Lisey
    Lisey Member Posts: 1,053
    edited June 2018

    I was 41 and Oncotype of 20.  Didn't want chemo, but got Mammaprint which said 'low risk' so no chemo for me.  Grade 2 for me...  

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  • Warrior2018
    Warrior2018 Member Posts: 380
    edited June 2018

    Hi. My Oncotype score was 19 and every doctor of mine (BS, 2 MOs and my Integrative Doc) said I didn’t need chemo. I agreed. My MO that specializes in BC believes that hormone therapy should be the focus- Tamoxifen or AI. So sorry you’re back to making these decisions. Wishing you clarity and peace.


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  • PalBuddy
    PalBuddy Member Posts: 27
    edited June 2018

    I am Oncotype 19 and not doing Chemo. My MedOnc said there was no need. He said he might well not have recommended it even before the new study came out. (It came out the day before I got my Oncotype result.) I am doing Radiation Therapy and AI Femara. I've already started taking the Femara (am halfway through Radiation treatments), but MedOnc has me doing 3 days a week of it for the first 3 weeks. (Easing in, I guess...) I am 58, but hadn't started menopause 3 years ago when I had an oopherectomy. (For something they saw on the ovaries which did not turn out to be cancer.)

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  • Meow13
    Meow13 Member Posts: 4,859
    edited June 2018

    PalBuddy, glad radiation is ok for you. I have many skin sensitivities ugh. I thank God for benedryl for itchy skin. I am done with my AI treatment but still have lingering side effects. My oncodx was 34 and I still refused chemo. I didn't require radiation since I did mastectomy. I don't include my dx and treatment in my profile do to privacy concerns about the public nature of BCO and its use of outbrain. I am 60 now and 7 years cancer free.

    My nottingham scores were 5 and 6 respectively for my 2 tumors each 1cm. My biggest concern is the absence of progesterone receptors and 95% er positive, apparently an alarming combo.

    Good luck.

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  • bluepearl
    bluepearl Member Posts: 961
    edited June 2018

    Recent study indicates women in the grey zone who don't do chemo fair as well as those who do. My only caveat is hers+ or triple negative...which your second tumour is not. You can probably forgo chemo, but it is up to you as to what feels best for you. I never got the oncotypeDX period......wished I had...but I didn't do chemo for either.

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