Need info about the oncotype test

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lionessdoe
lionessdoe Member Posts: 780
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment
Need info about the oncotype test
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  • lionessdoe
    lionessdoe Member Posts: 780
    edited December 2007

    Can someone please tell when the oncotype test needs to be done. Is there an oen window of time in which it needs to be done?

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  • abbadoodles
    abbadoodles Member Posts: 2,618
    edited December 2007

    Doe, it needs to be done before making treatment decisions.  I think they can use tumor sample that is refrigerated, maybe frozen.  Don't know about that part.

    BUT, your insurance may or may not pay for it.  You have to check before hand.  I think it is still considered experimental and I do know my Blue Cross, which normally pays for everything, does not pay unless you go through all sorts of hoops in appeals and even then, may not pay.  I think it costs about $3500.00.

    Tina

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  • wendyk13
    wendyk13 Member Posts: 1,600
    edited December 2007

    Oncotyping needs to be done ASAP after your biopsy/lumpectomy as it does take a few weeks to get the results so you want to have it should you need/decide to have chemo which docs like to start 4-6 weeks after surgery (closer to 4 weeks tho).

    I have UnitedHealth Care which doesn't like to pay for anything, but this they do pay for!  The company is WONDERFUL about helping you get your ins. to pay for it, and if they can't, they let you pay what you can, when you can.  So don't worry about the cost...that part will work out.  Yep...$3500. is the cost.

    Good Luck!

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  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 5,446
    edited December 2007

    Doe,


    Yes, the Oncotype test needs to be done before your treatment has started. 

    If I were you, I wouldn't rely on the Oncotype test too much, though.  My results were RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE, and so the test was NO HELP to me whatsoever.  I now may have to pay for the test, because my insurance won't pay for it. 

    In the end, I decided to get the chemo, because only if I do EVERYTHING, then I can say I have done everything possible to prevent recurrence...  I know that I would NEVER forgive myself if something happened later... I would always think... I shoulda got chemo....

    Good Luck!

    Harley

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  • TenderIsOurMight
    TenderIsOurMight Member Posts: 4,493
    edited March 2008



    There's a thread somewhere on this discussion board ("I won my appeal) or such, which I seem to recall was about an Oncotype DX appeal all the way to the California State Insurance commissioner. She has posted the experts reasoning for why her insurance company should cover this, posting the letter for others having difficulty with obtaining payment.



    Btw, at the San Antonio 2007 conference, there was a presentation about Oncotpye DX determinations of ER/PR status being more accurate than immunohistochemistry (IHC), current standard. So the company is branching out, and to be successful, obviously they will need insurance acceptance (reimbursement) to make it financially worth their while.



    My thoughts are that Oncotpye DX or Mammoprint should be done on paraffin blocks even if you've finished your adjuvant treatment. It may well highlight which high risk patient should have early scans, etc...rather than just waiting. But, this dream will probably only occur when it is proven that early micrometastatic treatment results in OS or DFS, and oncology isn't there yet. But this is where I would set up a clinical trial....



    All the best,

    Tender

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  • lionessdoe
    lionessdoe Member Posts: 780
    edited December 2007

    Thank you all so much!!!!

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  • jayhawk
    jayhawk Member Posts: 32
    edited December 2007

    Doe,

    If you have positive nodes, at this time the test is not appropriate for you.  I would think your doctors would be pushing chemo pretty adamently for you.  The test is designed to help node neg. women decide if they would get benefit from the chemo or not.  Donna

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  • Sunshine99
    Sunshine99 Member Posts: 1,680
    edited December 2007

    I decided to have the Oncotype Dx test done and will be participating in a clinical trial.  Since I'm early stage (IIa), node negative, hormone positive, I'm a good candidate.  Apparently being in the clinical trial will mean that I will have no financial responsiblity for the test. 

    In the clinical trial, the "low recurrence" group will not get chemo, the "high recurrence" group will get chemo, and the middle group will be randomly assigned either chemo or no chemo.  All groups will get hormonal therapy, as I understand it.

    There is an Oncotype website at http://www.oncotypeDX.com

    I went there and printed out the FAQ page.  I believe that the test is considered appropriate for recently diagnosed Stage I or II, node-negative, and estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

    Hope this helps.  (If I goofed on the link above, try googling Oncotype test Smile)

    Sunshine

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  • Barbeqrn
    Barbeqrn Member Posts: 200
    edited December 2007

    Doe,

    I had one positive node and could have pushed to have the oncotype done as they are doing a study in 1-3 node positive women, but I thought I better just have the chemo no matter what since the cancer had broken through to a lymph node...and my cancer is a grade 1...go figure!!!!!





    Barb



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  • WellWater
    WellWater Member Posts: 6,546
    edited December 2007

    After surgery and path report - Stage I, LCIS, micro-invasion, no node involvement - I saw the Medical Oncologist who thought I would be a great candidate for the Oncotype clinical study.  I agreed and they sent in the tissues/blood work.  I have BC/BS individual policy (and they don't want to pay for anything) so I was told that the test would be covered if my insurance wouldn't pay for it.  That is, however, the only thing the study will pay for.

    What is disappointing to me is that I expected to get my results yesterday and the decision re chemo.  My number came in at 15 - which puts me smack dab in the middle of the "gray" zone.....0-10 means NO chemo, 23 and higher means DEFINITE chemo - 11-22 is a flip of the coin.  So now I have to wait yet another week to find out if I'm going to be in the chemo test group or not.  The waiting is the hardest part so far for me....I like to get my answers and get going - hanging on a limb is so frustrating. 

    I could have dropped out of the study yesterday and gotten my answer from the MO but I feel that research is so important and they have only gotten as far as they have in new treatment because women before me agreed to be in the studies.....so now I'm trying to do my part.

    Hope this helps.

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