Low oncotype DX score... chemo or no chemo??

Janet -- I see how you would be confused. I can share my story, perhaps that can help you. I was told because of my age (32), my grade (3), lympthvascular invasion and family history, I should have the chemo. Although I was stage 2a and nodes were clean (with clear margins after second surgery) I opted to have chemo because personally, I wanted to get it over with. And, I also didn't want regrets or what ifs later. I wanted to throw at the cancer everything i could. But, I had grade 3 which is very agressive. So it was easier for me to make the decision at the time. Perhaps you need to ask your Dr. what he suggests considering your age, but based on your pathology report (and I don't know if your tumor had a crazy personality to build its own path to travel, which is what I had), I would probably skip the chemo. But then again, it is hard to decide unless you're really there. So sorry, but even for me is hard. But I am happy your grade is so low and your tumor was small, and the stage was early and your nodes were clear! This is all good news and probably has the most influence on your outcome (more so than chemo).

Good luck with what you decide. May God guide you to make the right decision for yourself.

HUGS

BioAdoptMom said:

I had my first onco visit
I had my first onco visit today and he is just now preparing to send off my pathology for an Oncotype. So, I have not reached the point where you are yet, but I can tell you that he told me if I have to have chemo (I have same stats as you except mine is grade 3) it would be taxotere and cytoxan are by no means a picnic, but he described them as one of the less rigorous treatments and very doable. He told me I would probably even just need to be off on a Friday for treatment and probably be back to my teaching job on the following Monday each time. So, just something to consider if she is pushing chemo for you.

Nancy

I had those chemo drugs, mine were always on Mondays with a shot of Nulesta on Tuesday.  I was fine, except being tired until Wed eve and then it was no pinic for sure.  I hope he's right and you can return to work on Monday after Friday chemo, there's no way I could have.  We are all different that's for sure:) 

Patti

gadawn said:

Similar situation...

We have similar situations, but it has been 2 years since you posted your topic. What did you finally do?

I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in February 2013, had a single mastectomy on March 11, and am waiting for my Oncotype test results. They will be in on April 10th. Cancer was Stage 2B, Grade 3, +ER, +PR, -HER2. My oncologist immediately recommended Chemo and hormone therapy. I am against both. When I asked her what the statistics/percentages of it recurring with chemo or without chemo, she didn't have any answers. She reluctantly offered the Oncotype DX test and made sure I understood it was NOT Standard procedure AND said her recommendations would not change when the test results came back. I was relieved there is a test and immediately agreed to have it done. I am looking into alternative cancer treatment centers and have found one that I believe I will be going to get a second opinion. Oasis of Hope in CA. I am not convinced that aggressive chemo and hormone therapy is the best option for me or most women with breast cancer. I'm extremely impressed with the treatments that are offered at Oasis of Hope...low-dose chemo using insulin potentiated therapy along with high-dose IV Vitamin C, etc. They also treat the whole person and are a Christian-based clinic. They teach you how to eat to prevent recurrence. Too many women just fall in line with the traditional treament plans and don't realize there are other options out there.

I agree with you.  I am not so sure that the treatments are better than removing the cancer and beginning a healthy regimen of good diet and exercise.  I am totally lost as to what to do since I am 49, not even in pre-menopausal and can't take Tamoxifen.

SherryHJ said:

onco dx

I thought that it meant I wouldn't have to have radiation or chemo.  I was wrong.  I had a onco dx score of10 with a slow growing tumor, ER+, HER-, but it was 2.5 cm which pushed it to a 2a. 

I had a lumpectomy and 40 radiation treatments.  My nodes were clear, thank God!

Now, I get recommendations to have my breasts removed from my MD, to have my ovaries removed from my oncologist, and my OB says no, in order to cut my risks further. 

I am freaking out.  I thought that not having it in my nodes and having a low OncoDX score meant I had a low rate of recurrence.  BTW:  I can't take Tamoxifen at all!  Life threatening for me.

I was stage 1, ER+, HER-, 1.9cm tumor, Oncotype score 13, and BRCA gene with a mutation of unknown significance (whatever that means).  One oncologist said do chemo and the other said no way.  I had a bilateral mastectomy (BM) because I had DCIS in the previous breast 3 years prior.  I chose no chemo because of the oncotype test and because of heart problems in my family.  I did however go on tamoxifen afterwards.  Maybe not being able to take that is why they are suggesting different treatments.  I did not have the radiation because I had the BM done.  Two years after the BM I developed ovarian cysts and my gynecologist wanted me to have a hysterectomy.  She said my ovaries were shot from the tamoxifen anyway and she did not want to take any chances.  Doing that made me have to switch over to Aromasin instead of tamoxifen.

Everyone is different and so are doctors.  One says one thing and another says something different.  Are you negative for the BRCA gene?  If so, it Is really your decision on what to do next.  I would get a second opinion from another oncologist.  

We are very lucky that we had early stage, slow growing tumors, but with that comes a lot of choices on treatment plans that we need to make.  I still hope I made the right choice about not doing chemo.  Whatever you chose, you have to live with your choice and try not to look back.

Feel free to personal message me if you want.  I know what you are going through.  It's not easy to make such big decisions.

Hugs,

Ginny

Two months ago I had an oncotype test. I had no lymph node involvement ER/PR+ HER2-, tumor size less than 1 cm. Lumpectomy, Stage 1b, grade 2.  I am 57. I did 33 rads, as was the initial suggestion, to be followed by hormone therapy. Tow weeks ago myoncologist said he would like to send out for a mammo print test, which only gives a high or low determination. I was graded at low intermediate on oncotype test. Now he's suggesting chemo based on the mamma print test and is ignoring the oncotype test. I'm beside myself trying to figure out what to do. Anyone with similar issues.