Oncytype DX

maryannrogers

Has anyone here had any experience with this test? Mine came back a number 8 and oncologist told me I wouldn't need any chemo. Just taking Arimidex now. Will be for 5 years. Cancer was Estrogen & progesterene positive and HER-2 negative. I'd love to hear from you all out there.

lmmo

oncotype DX
Mine came back 29 lymph node negative, so I am to have adriamycin/cytoxan then taxotere or taxol. Had my port inserted tuesday. What a great tool to help give us a recurrence percentage. I had Er+, Pr+, KI-67 (85%) tumor 1.8 cm.

scout5000

I had Oncotyping done also.
I had a low score also. I also have/had ER/PR+, HER-2 neg. I ended up having to do chemo because although they originally thought I had no cancer in my lymph nodes, after further testing called IHC (ImmunoHistoChemical Staining) they found some microscopic cancer cells in one lymph node. You, on the other hand, must have had no cancer in your lymph nodes, and a very low Oncotype score. So that combination- no lymph node involvement and low Oncotype score= No Chemo!!! Yeah. Arimidex for 5 years. I just finished chemo and will start Arimidex also. Your doc is following the same protocol my doc follows. Best Wishes. Scout

Noel

lmmo said:

oncotype DX
Mine came back 29 lymph node negative, so I am to have adriamycin/cytoxan then taxotere or taxol. Had my port inserted tuesday. What a great tool to help give us a recurrence percentage. I had Er+, Pr+, KI-67 (85%) tumor 1.8 cm.

So Immo, you are taking
So Immo, you are taking chemo just for the fact that your oncotype dx score was high? Your margins were clean, your lymph nodes were clean? And, your cancer stage or grade? Did you have an aggressive cancer? What was the reasoning behind your being on chemo? Hope I am not being too nosey. If I am, I apologize.

Noel

padee6339

Oncotype DX
I had it, my score was 36 (or 34 can't remember now) but high enough to warrant 6 rounds of taxotere/carboplaten and 36 rads. I had clean margins and nothing in the lymph nodes either, but she said it has a chance of recurrence, so we did it. Its over. Hopefully, it won't come back with the bombardment of treatments - LOL.
Pat

rainbow4

Oncotype DX
Judi,
I also opted for the Oncotype test. I had a lumpectomy (small, early tumor) and sentinel lymphnode removed (ER+,PR+). During surgery the path report said the lymphnode was clear, but after further tests, discovered there were micro bits of tumor. My onco and surgeon both told me I had about a 9% chance of recurrence; I wanted more scientific back-up to that so had the test and it came back 14%, which wasn't what I was hoping for! Anyway, I was told that the 14 number from Oncotype was still within guidelines from Sloan Kettering studies that I did not need chemo. Had 33 radiation treatments, with 5 booster doses - emphasis on the axillary area where the sentinal node was. Have been on Armimidex now for 3 weeks and will continue it for 5 years.

Even though the Oncotype test didn't reduce the likelihood of recurrence, I'm very glad I had it done. Felt that it validated, more or less, what the docs were saying.
--Barb

Akiss4me

Maryann...
Yea....Glad to hear you had a low score!! The OncotypeDX test 21 different genes and is being used more & more as an additional tool. With all your other results combined, I couldn't see them recommending chemo!! Will you be doing radiation though? -) Pammy

lmmo

oncotype DX
Yes, I will have chemo, not only based on oncotype dx, my tumor had the proliferator KI-67 which gave me a poor prognosis at the get go even though I was node negative. I have been to 2 oncologists, one in dc that specializes in breast cancer and has many studies running and more than 5000 patients. My local oncologist sent me to her for a second opinion after the oncotype dx came back. My age also is a factor. I hope this helps. I wish I did not have to endure chemo....I just saw a cardiologist and have to have ab echo and stress test then a mugga scan. Yesterday my rt pupil became fixed and dilated, saw opthomalogist right away, eyes are ok, thinks something is pressing my 3rd nerve that connects to the pupil fibers...he said could be cancer cells that got into the vascular system ans settled in brain, infarct or inflamation of some unknown reason...so I need chemo.

Christmas Girl

lmmo said:

oncotype DX
Yes, I will have chemo, not only based on oncotype dx, my tumor had the proliferator KI-67 which gave me a poor prognosis at the get go even though I was node negative. I have been to 2 oncologists, one in dc that specializes in breast cancer and has many studies running and more than 5000 patients. My local oncologist sent me to her for a second opinion after the oncotype dx came back. My age also is a factor. I hope this helps. I wish I did not have to endure chemo....I just saw a cardiologist and have to have ab echo and stress test then a mugga scan. Yesterday my rt pupil became fixed and dilated, saw opthomalogist right away, eyes are ok, thinks something is pressing my 3rd nerve that connects to the pupil fibers...he said could be cancer cells that got into the vascular system ans settled in brain, infarct or inflamation of some unknown reason...so I need chemo.

lmmo...
Best wishes to you, for successful treatment. We'll be here for you, each step of the way. Chemo isn't easy - yet, it is doable.

susie09

Christmas Girl said:

lmmo...
Best wishes to you, for successful treatment. We'll be here for you, each step of the way. Chemo isn't easy - yet, it is doable.

Good luck with chemo Immo!

Good luck with chemo Immo!

lmmo

oops wrong score
My score was 42 not 29 (29 was the percent) sorry.
Lisa

Alexis F

rainbow4 said:

Oncotype DX
Judi,
I also opted for the Oncotype test. I had a lumpectomy (small, early tumor) and sentinel lymphnode removed (ER+,PR+). During surgery the path report said the lymphnode was clear, but after further tests, discovered there were micro bits of tumor. My onco and surgeon both told me I had about a 9% chance of recurrence; I wanted more scientific back-up to that so had the test and it came back 14%, which wasn't what I was hoping for! Anyway, I was told that the 14 number from Oncotype was still within guidelines from Sloan Kettering studies that I did not need chemo. Had 33 radiation treatments, with 5 booster doses - emphasis on the axillary area where the sentinal node was. Have been on Armimidex now for 3 weeks and will continue it for 5 years.

Even though the Oncotype test didn't reduce the likelihood of recurrence, I'm very glad I had it done. Felt that it validated, more or less, what the docs were saying.
--Barb

What is a bad score to get
What is a bad score to get with the test? Like where is the line where they say you need chemo? Can anyone inform me?

So, if everything else is good with you, if this test comes back and says you need chemo, you just do it?

Good luck to all of you!

Lex

Akiss4me

Alexis F said:

What is a bad score to get
What is a bad score to get with the test? Like where is the line where they say you need chemo? Can anyone inform me?

So, if everything else is good with you, if this test comes back and says you need chemo, you just do it?

Good luck to all of you!

Lex

No, this test does not decide it alone!
Lex, this test is just one part of a whole in deciding "chemo" or "not to chemo". They also look at size of your tumor, if lymph nodes are positive or not, how invasive, grade, stage, location, etc.
The customary numbers for the OncotypeDX test is as follows:
0-18 suggest no chemo needed
25-100 suggest chemo should be considered
19-25 is a grey area that they are unsure about. This insues a long discusion with your Oncologist on "should I" or "shouldn't I"?
It is a good tool in your arsenal on the best approach to attack the beast.
Hope this helped to clear some things up!
-) Pammy

survivorbc09

Congrats Maryann on not
Congrats Maryann on not needing chemo! A #8 means no chemo! So happy for you!