Not sure this is in the correct forum or not but wanted to post it. In august I went to the doc with discharge from one of my niples - cut a long story short I was diagnosed with high grade dcis in October and underwent a mastectomy. Results last week showed I also had two small invasive cancer tumours (I’m 28). However lymph nodes were clear, because of this my consultant has arranged a oncotype DX test to calculate the benefit of chemo. Been told 2-3 weeks til results. Been told to expect outcome will show need chemo just the waiting part…anybody had any dealings with this test it is really new and only recently available on NHS…thanks
From what I can gather it is a relatively new test the NHS uses to get a greater understanding of your own personal risk of a reacurrance of breast cancer. But there is certain criteria, that is ER+, grade 3 and lymph negative. Sample is sent to US. You will get a high, medium, or low risk of reacuurance rate that can help determin the next stage of treatment. Mine was sent off yesterday.
There is another little thread I started yesterday in Surgery.
I am interested in the different treatments on offer with regard to results in the different areas.
Hi I had v small lump removed and nothing in lymph nodes, they sent sample to US for test but it was too small to test so I decided against chemo. It seems good they try to tailor treatment more rather than give chemo to all. Sorry to hear you had to go through a mastectomy hope all goes well for you now xx
i had an Oncotype test done. The tumour is genetically tested for reoccurance and given a score up to 100 - higher the score, the increased chance of it returning. I was told that a score under 18 means definitely no chemo. 18 - 25 is intermediate and basically up to you, but taking all factors in to consideration. Over 25 and there would be a definite benefit to having chemo.
My score took about 2 weeks to come back and was just 13 so I was very lucky. My tumour was 12mm, grade1, no lymph involvement and ER & PR positive. HER negative.
I was worried when the result came back and they said no to chemo, whether that was the right decision but they assured me that it was.
So it’s been straight to rads for me - started it today, and tamoxifen for min of 5 years.
Thank you so much for this, I have been doing lots of reading and there does seem to be a lot of evidence to show that the 10 year survivial rate, with chemo is significantly increased - this can not be ignored.
How was your oncologist/team with this, were they keen for you to have the chemo?
Also (sorry for questions) how long after your oncotype result did you start chemo?
Did discussions look at fewer sessions as well?
I have had my result a week now, but still awaiting my appointment to see the oncologist for discussions. I am very much swaying towards the chemo first.
Thank you for such and in depth reply, which pretty much backs up what I have researched and read. This latest article from last month, was kinda the decision breaker for me;
I saw my own Gp today to get an all clear to go back to work, (work denied, but that is another story) but going through my notes and results she has agreed that in my case, chemo would be very beneficial on the long term survival rates, and we agree these benefits can’t be ignored. I will talk about maybe having reduced amout of chemo, just in case this is a possibility.
Got home and Oncologist appt has arrived and on 13th December.
I’m interested to hear you got a breakdown of your Oncotype results both with and without hormone therapy. Mine did not include this. I got three pages of results and they only included a score including hormone therapy so my score of 28 was with hormones. I have everything my hospital were given so maybe different areas do things differently?
I have my Oncologist appt tomorrow afternoon to full discussions and I do plan to see (or ask to) my full results. I have resigned, or come to terms with the most likely next stage will be chemo.
Still the waiting again has been the hardest and now it is imminent, scary.
It was another formum that suggested the oncotyping included the 5 years on Tamoxifen, I emailed my BCN who confirmed it did not include hormone therapy.