Oncotype score of 22

Hi,

I was diagnosed right after Christmas and had my lumpectomy with two nodes removed on Jan 30th. I am 44 yrs old stage 2 and thankfully it has not spread, my score is 22. I began crying when she told me my score because at the time I thought that my score was extremely high. As I was crying I said I don't want to do chemo and she then said the she was not recommending chemo and that I was in that "grey area" and that she wants to suppress my hormones. She put me on lupron shots monthly and once radiation in completed ill take Anastrozole. I asked her "why not just remove my ovaries" and she said because once thats done there is no going back and she'd like to see how I do on the ovarian surpression pills first. Im 6 days into radiation Therepy and so far so good, Im doing a total of 20. I also had my first lupron shot on March 1st but I still ended up having my period this month so I plan on updating my dr when I see her this Friday.

What made you decide to get a mastectomy as oppose to a lumpectomy?

Im estrogen receptor positive her2-. Ive suffered from heavy periods so ovary removal sounded like a good option to me but sine my dr recommended taking the meds first I guess I didn't really question it. Please keep me posted and ill do the same

My oncotype score is 20, so at 38yo I was in a gray area too. I was adamant that I wouldn't do chemo, so my doc suggested lupron & anastrozole. I've been on that regimen since January. While I feel a bit out of sorts due to being in chemical menopause, I'm tolerating it well for the most part.

Oncologists insist the survival rates for lumpectomy and MX are the same. Hard to believe but the cancer can come back on the MX scar area. It did for my sister. To be fair there are other factors involved like the type of BC. I had IDC and my sister had ILC. My BS was all about saving the breast and while my scar isn’t pretty he said I had a wimpy cancer whatever that is. I think that was his effort to keep me from panicking.

I think you just do whatever you feel comfortable with.

Diane

Hi there, I'm 46 and also had stage 1 IDC. My Oncotype score was 21. My oncologist said the chemo choice was up to me. I decided against it, as I just didn't think I could justify the toxicity of the chemo drugs. I did lumpectomy and radiation, and will be starting tamoxifen soon. I’m keeping my ovaries. My onc said removing them would make me”extremely unhappy” lol

Hi

I ended up with a lumpectomy and chemo and lupron-- no one thought I should remove my ovaries-- I honestly found the lupron more difficult than the chemo!!! But this is such a personal decision and you can only do what you can do with the information that you have. I hope you can come to a decision that gives you peace

Pat, did you discontinue AI’s? I’m due to start tamoxifen soon but have decided I will not continue if it ruins my QOL

Conjuring, it is ok, you do what feels best for you. I was 53, post menopausal er+ pr- grade 2, stage 1, my oncodx came back 34. I chose not to do chemo, I did 4 years AI drugs.. Going on year 8 cancer free.

I understand your fears of chemo I too had the same reaction.

I was 41 when diagnosed and had the Oncotype Test done in 2015. My score was 27. Back then, that was considered in the intermediate zone. Given my age, my oncologist wanted me to do chemo. I declined. 
My reason? Chemo comes with a whole array of side effects. Some can be pretty severe and life long. My oncologist was honest with me and told me that he didn't know if the benefits of chemo outweighed the risks. I just could not see putting my body through all of that, if I didn't know for certain that it was receiving some benefit. 
I moved forward with radiation, followed by Tamoxifen. Tamoxifen created havoc in my body. In 2017, I had a hysterectomy. (But left my ovaries.) In 2018, I almost died from an ovarian torsion and had my left ovary removed. Then this year, I had my remaining ovary removed after a softball size cyst was discovered. Both the torsion and the cyst were caused by Tamoxifen.
I am now 44 and in surgically induced menopause. Not fun! 

Anyway, sorry for rambling. Just wanted to share my decision with you and let you know that I have zero regrets about not doing chemo. I wish you all the best. Make the decision that you feel is best for you and don't look back!