Ordering Mammaprint before surgery?

Options
Rav
Rav Member Posts: 14

Hello,

i am planning to have Mammaprint done, but not sure if it must be ordered before surgery or is it possible to use the “material” (ought!) at a later date.

I am in Canada, Mammaprint it’s not a “common procedure” here (I am not even sure if I can order it paying out of pocket).

My question is: What would be the steps to have the test done? Anyone in Canada in a similar situation?

Thank you

Comments

  • Spoonie77
    Spoonie77 Member Posts: 925
    edited December 2018

    Hi Rav - I'm in the US, so not sure what standard is for Canada. Hopefully your fellow Canadians will chime in with their experiences soon.

    As for me, my SO did not order either the Oncotype nor the Mammoprint prior to or after my surgery.

    I had assumed, incorrectly so, that it was standard procedure for the surgeon to order it to have the results ready when I would meet my MO. I wanted to know my Oncotype so I was disappointed that I didn't get these results with my pathology phone call.

    I found out on that call that that is something that the MO needed to order. Thankfully, which I think is standard, the tissue from surgery is typically saved to be tested for up to a certain number of years later I believe. The length of time is different I assume for different labs.

    If I had known this before surgery, I would have asked to meet with my MO prior to it, so her and I could've discussed this and ordered the correct testing. Thankfully, even with the delay, I was able to get the results back in 2 weeks after being ordered, so I still had the results available when I went in to meet my MO for the first time.

    Anyway, long story long, what I would suggest you do, if you'd like to have the Mammoprint or Oncotype run so that when you see your MO you have the results, I would contact them and see if they would be willing to do so in advance.

    FWIW, I ended up needing both tests run, because my Oncotype was borderline Low/Intermediate and I'm 41, so for peace of mind I asked to have the Mammo run to confirm. It ended up coming back LOW which is what the Onco had suggested, that I could skip chemo. And now I can look back, even in the face of a recurrence if it were to happen, and say I dotted my i's and crossed my t's.

    Wishing you the best as you go forward on this journey.


  • Rav
    Rav Member Posts: 14
    edited December 2018

    Hey Spoonie77,

    Thanks for your reply. I am glad to know they can be ordered after surgery.

    I feel happy that you were able to skip chemo. I plan to follow your steps! :)

    Let's see. Thanks again. Your reply gave me a lot of “piece of mind" (if that is possible besurgery).

    Wishing you the best

Categories