Oncotype 28

Hello,

I can understand your feelings right now. My onco score was a 27, I was told anything over 25 was chemo treatment. My MO recommended chemo, she was surprised my onco number came back as high as it did because I was a strong receptor positive. She said with the numbers being conflicting she said "something more aggressive may be going on". I was 50 at the time, we didnt know where I was in regards to menopause, I guess that put me in a gray area also for chemo. My mastectomy removed the cancer tumors, and my nodes were clear, so I was still on the fence about the chemo. When I read all the side effects that could happen I was very unsure if I would do it. I was going back and forth with my MO and getting possible percentages of recurrence, etc. I was driving myself nuts and was going to get a second opinion, but my brain was so tired at that point, for me I would become nuttier going to other doctors. I finally stopped myself and said I trust my MO, my onco score WAS over 25 so it did put me in category for chemo, and if I didnt do the chemo I would always be second guessing myself. I also found so much information, explanations and experiences from people on this site which helped tremendously.

Once I decided to do the chemo what a weight was lifted off my shoulders! I became empowered, and I was going to do anything I could to try to keep cancer from recurring. I have my last round of chemo this week (have completed 3 rounds), and honestly the time has gone by pretty fast. There are a few days after my chemo treatment that I feel crummy but after that I really feel good. My treatment has been do-able.

It is such a personal decision, I send you strength as you sort everything out.

RdhJoy,

Re preventing recurrence-- besides chemo, I think it is important to clean up your diet, & make your body less hospitable to cancer. V important to eat well, and not too much saturated fat, and to exercize. Even if you have no cancer cells left right now, you can still develop a new cancer when your system is off kilter or if you have too much inflammation or any pre-diabetic leanings.

If only we could just whack them off and it would mean we would be recurrence-free. It’s understandable to want to rid ourselves of the source(s) of our BC but unfortunately it’s no guarantee.

My sister had a MX and had a local recurrence in the MX scar area after 4 years of being cancer-free. Sometimes there is a stray cell lingering around.

I was told the stats were the same for a lumpectomy vs mastectomy which is still hard to believe but stats bear this out.

I had a lumpectomy and 33 radiation treatments plus Tamoxifen for 5 years. I was 7 years out last August. My Oncotype score was 11 which resulted in me dodging chemo. My MO said women have been over treated for years thus the Oncotype test to help them determine if chemo is warranted.

Good luck whatever you decide.

Diane

Hi everyone! Who would have ever thought we would be posting on a message board about oncotype.

I am 60 and in very good health (except for cancer), my oncotype was 24..the gray of the gray areas. Every medical specialist I spoke to said "if you were my sister", or "if it was me", they would have chemo. If I didn't do chemo, and I got a reoccurrence, I wouldn't be able to live with myself. If I have chemo and get a reoccurrence, I will know I fought the best I could!  Well...I start  chemo on Friday.

As Momand2kids said it perfectly..." In the end, you will make the right decision for you and your family"

At my second opinion from UCSF right before my surgery the doctor told me about the impending Taylor study. He explained that it was going to remove the center grey area and split the oncotype score at 25 to cut down on the confusion for women with hormone positive cancer. The Taylor study came out the week I got my score of 27( so close yet so far away) I had made the decision to go with chemo if it was 25 or above before I got it. I cried but am now through it.

Hello ladies - My oncotype was 25, I was 43 but I had 2 nodes involvement. So the MO recommended chemo. Chemo is hard but you power through it. I worked through it. I took the treatment on a Friday for 8 weeks (4 weeks AC, and 4 T). I was grade 2...

And I also had a double mastectomy and 30 days of Rads. I took Tamoxifen and then Letrozole.

4 years later, it has metastazied to the spine. I'm telling you all this to say, do not underestimate BC. Take the most aggressive treatment possible, or else you might be second guessing your decision. Im glad I did so Im not kicking myself now. I at least have the knowledge that I did everything possible...

Hi Rdh

I did work through chemo-was treated on Friday-generally made it back into the office on Tues/Wed. sometimes worked at home and some of my colleagues took some of my projects. I had 4 rounds of A/C over 8 weeks so it was not too long--- I work in a university so had some flexibility. I felt the worst on Mondays and Tuesdays--then felt great for the next 7 days, then time for another treatment.

I also worked through radiation--took the 9am appointment every day, then on the way to work bought myself a bagel and tea-- then went to work. I found the end of radiation hard because the accumulation of chemo and radiation over a few months was exhausting. I tried to keep exercising, or at least walking-- did lots of elliptical training during radiation---- just to try to stay in shape.... then about a month after radiation, the exhaustion lifted and I felt like myself again.

You can do this!!!!

Utropia, thank you for your post. Big hug and I’m sorry. You just expressed perfectly why I chose chemo. I haven’t even seen my Mammaprint score (hasn’t arrived yet....and it’s really late), but after long deliberation I thought...grade 3, 3 cm tumor, been in my body probably a long while spreading bad tidings, and a long history of family members dying of cancer....chemo for me. Nothing gets left on the table. My MO agreed.

So, I start AC on Monday...four rounds / 21 day cycles.

Heard back from my Insurance on the Oncotype.

They are labeling it a legitimate claim but the provider is Out of Network, so I get stuck with a $4,000 bill.

MLAnne - can you not find a provider in network? I had the test done. It was $5k in 2011 when I had it done. I dodged chemo because of my low score of 11.

Btw BC/BS approved a test my husband had to have from a hospital that was OON because it was the only place in town who did the test.

Also Genomic Labs who did my Oncotype test said they would work with patients who had to pay out of pocket as in a sliding income scale.

Diane