ONCOTYPE DX
My stats are: 43 years old, Stage 1, ER+, HER2-, Node-, but my tumor was pretty large at 2.5 cm. I tend to think it was very fast-growing also, as I regularly do exams and have physicals and neither I nor my PCP felt it before.
Please help me by letting me know your stats and experiences with this test. My biggest fear is that it comes back as Low Risk and I experience a recurrence in a few years. I would be upset that I did not get the agressive treatment.
Thanks, in advance, for your help!
Comments
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I'm not sure.........
I'm not sure of my oncotype score. All I know is that my onc told me that if I do the mastectomy with chemo and rads, that my chance of surviving for 10 years is about 65-70%.
If I just did mastectomy, my chances dropped dramatically.
I just recently asked him, having completed chemo & rads....I am planning on getting a puppy. It's life span is about 10 years. Should I go ahead & get it?
He laughed his great big laugh and said...nice try! You know that I can't assure you that you will still be here in 10 years. But, go ahead and get the puppy anyway!
CR0 -
Awww, Cindy...CR1954 said:I'm not sure.........
I'm not sure of my oncotype score. All I know is that my onc told me that if I do the mastectomy with chemo and rads, that my chance of surviving for 10 years is about 65-70%.
If I just did mastectomy, my chances dropped dramatically.
I just recently asked him, having completed chemo & rads....I am planning on getting a puppy. It's life span is about 10 years. Should I go ahead & get it?
He laughed his great big laugh and said...nice try! You know that I can't assure you that you will still be here in 10 years. But, go ahead and get the puppy anyway!
CR
Although I totally understand... Because we all wonder, don't we? And, in a different way than others, who are not cancer survivors...
Nevertheless, you ARE gonna get that puppy! :-)
Kind regards, Susan0 -
You need to talk to your
You need to talk to your oncologist to get the statistics. And, you need to do what will put your mind at ease and make you feel better. From what I have been told and read, I thought any tumor over 2cm almost always required chemo. But, talk to your doctor. Good luck!0 -
Haha Susan.........Christmas Girl said:Awww, Cindy...
Although I totally understand... Because we all wonder, don't we? And, in a different way than others, who are not cancer survivors...
Nevertheless, you ARE gonna get that puppy! :-)
Kind regards, Susan
We are going to meet "Dolly", our new puppy, next weekend. She will be 2 1/2 weeks old then.
I have her new collar and her new bowl all ready for when we bring her home in a few weeks.
Only problem is that I still haven't broken the news to Kenny that he will be "sharing" me with a new baby sister! LOL!
CR0 -
my oncotype dx experience
I had a tumor in each breast, both invasive ductal carcinoma. I did bilateral mastectomies with DIEP reconstruction. The right tumor was 1.4 cm, and the left was .6, so both very small. Big clear margins on the right, clear, but not all that big on the left. The right Oncotype DX was 9, and the left was 16.
Put all of that together, and the smaller tumor looks like the one that could give more trouble, huh?
The 9 was easy--chemo wouldn't help, because the rate of recurrence is so low. The 16 was a much harder decision, for me, anyway. All the current research puts any number under 30 in the low catagory--the nation-wide clinical trial going on cuts the numbers differently, and that got in my way. The study is looking at the difference in treatment outcomes for women with Oncotype DX between 11-21. (I am not part of the clinical study, because I had two synchronis tumors which disqualified me.)
However, those results aren't in--what we know right now is that chemo isn't shown to help women with scores under 30.
My oncologist offered me chemo--after much gnashing of teeth--I'm not doing it. I know exactly what you mean about wanting to do it, though.
Lisa0 -
oncotype decisionsLtalcott said:my oncotype dx experience
I had a tumor in each breast, both invasive ductal carcinoma. I did bilateral mastectomies with DIEP reconstruction. The right tumor was 1.4 cm, and the left was .6, so both very small. Big clear margins on the right, clear, but not all that big on the left. The right Oncotype DX was 9, and the left was 16.
Put all of that together, and the smaller tumor looks like the one that could give more trouble, huh?
The 9 was easy--chemo wouldn't help, because the rate of recurrence is so low. The 16 was a much harder decision, for me, anyway. All the current research puts any number under 30 in the low catagory--the nation-wide clinical trial going on cuts the numbers differently, and that got in my way. The study is looking at the difference in treatment outcomes for women with Oncotype DX between 11-21. (I am not part of the clinical study, because I had two synchronis tumors which disqualified me.)
However, those results aren't in--what we know right now is that chemo isn't shown to help women with scores under 30.
My oncologist offered me chemo--after much gnashing of teeth--I'm not doing it. I know exactly what you mean about wanting to do it, though.
Lisa
It's all so stressful! I am really hoping that, whatever my score is, it is clear about needing/not needing chemo. I don't want to be in that "grey area"! My results are due on Friday, so I have 5 more days to worry about it! (I'm a pro at worrying...:)
Thanks for your help/info,
Tricia0 -
Patience is a virtuetcteach said:oncotype decisions
It's all so stressful! I am really hoping that, whatever my score is, it is clear about needing/not needing chemo. I don't want to be in that "grey area"! My results are due on Friday, so I have 5 more days to worry about it! (I'm a pro at worrying...:)
Thanks for your help/info,
Tricia
Just a quick not to let you know about my oncotype testing. The sample was sent a couple of weeks after surgery and I was contacted by Genomic labs that it had been recieved and my insurance verified and the resutls would be to my surgeon in a week to 10 days. At two week I called Genomic labs (nothing shy about me) and wanted my results. I was informed that the sample was not adquate and they had just recieved the second requested sample. Needless to say by the time I got my results and met with my surgeon I was a mess.
After reading on the internet that above a thirty was high risk and chemo was recommened I as thinking that a score of 50 or higher I would think about treatment, (did I mention I was a little independent). Like you I would have taken anything with a recommendation one way or the other, just not midrange where I had to make one more decission. Score came back at 68, just finished 18 weeks of chemo followed by 1 year of Hercptin.
I have learned that testing, treatment and your bodies recover is on there time lines not mine.
I am hoping and praying your resutls come in not only on time but earily and at at 1.
Sarah0 -
I'm in the clinical trial for oncotype...
First, I was told that the purpose of the Oncotype test is determine which women/men with breast cancer would benefit from chemotherapy and which ones would not in terms of their chances of distant recurrence of the breast cancer. Secondly, the trial cuts the numbers into three categories - low, moderate and high risk. I've forgotten the numeric breakdown. Those with low risk scores are not given chemo. Those with high risk are given chemo and for those in the moderate range - the computer randomly selects 50% to get chemo and the other 50% no chemo. Each of us are followed for a period of 10 years. My score was in the high risk category at 36. I was given Cytoxan and Taxotere - 4 rounds over 12 weeks. I was also placed on Arimidex. I was told that my score of 36 translated to a 24% chance of distant recurrence and that with chemo and the use of aromatase inhibitors, my risk would be reduced to about 12%. This is a significant decrease. My original dx: was Stage 1c, invasive ductal carcinoma, ER/PR+, HER-, no node involvement, tumor grade 2. I had a lumpectomy with clear margins and the tumor measured 1.7 cm.
I did not want chemo - that was my biggest fear; however, once I received my score, there was NO question in my mind of what I HAD to do. I just passed my one year anniversary since completing treatment, which included 33 radiation treatments, and I'm feeling good.
Hope this helps. Hugs, Marilynn
P. S. Hang in there. There is light at the end of the tunnel and life is good!!!!!!!!0 -
My Oncotype Testtcteach said:Thanks...
Thank you all for you info and support...I am hoping my decision will be a clear one!
I was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer last July 2008. I had a lumpectomy. No lymph nodes were involved. I had the Oncotype DX test done and had a recurrence score of 11 which is considered low. I did not need chemo, only six weeks radiation which ended in October 2008. I'm glad the test was an option for me as it isn't an option for everyone. If I would have needed chemo then of course I would have had it, anything to get well. I've had two mammograms since finishing radiation, January 2009 and again April 2009. Everything was good. I'm due for another mammogram in July 2009. I did my own research and have the utmost faith in my oncologist, gynecologist, radiation oncologist and surgical oncologist, all of which agree that there was no added benefit to me having chemo. I hope everything goes well for you.0 -
Welcome, Sarah! (quail)quail said:Patience is a virtue
Just a quick not to let you know about my oncotype testing. The sample was sent a couple of weeks after surgery and I was contacted by Genomic labs that it had been recieved and my insurance verified and the resutls would be to my surgeon in a week to 10 days. At two week I called Genomic labs (nothing shy about me) and wanted my results. I was informed that the sample was not adquate and they had just recieved the second requested sample. Needless to say by the time I got my results and met with my surgeon I was a mess.
After reading on the internet that above a thirty was high risk and chemo was recommened I as thinking that a score of 50 or higher I would think about treatment, (did I mention I was a little independent). Like you I would have taken anything with a recommendation one way or the other, just not midrange where I had to make one more decission. Score came back at 68, just finished 18 weeks of chemo followed by 1 year of Hercptin.
I have learned that testing, treatment and your bodies recover is on there time lines not mine.
I am hoping and praying your resutls come in not only on time but earily and at at 1.
Sarah
Glad to have you within the group, though sorry for the reason.
I joined a few months ago, to mark my five year anniversary for completion of all "invasive" treatment (surgery/chemo/rads).
We're here to support and encourage each other.
Kind regards, Susan0
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