Hi there,
I am new to this disscussion board. Tomorrow it will be 4 weeks since my lumpectomy. I am waiting for the results of the Oncotype DX test which will not be completed till the 28th of Feb.
Has anyone had this test done? If so, what is it’s importance? Treatment will start after that comes back. Stage 1, 1cm, e-p +, I really thought rad. and Tomaxifin
would be the treatment but now I don’t know…
artsee
Hi artsee
Firstly, welcome to the forums, I am sorry to read of your recent diagnosis. I just wanted to let you know that Breast Cancer Care have published a Resource Pack, it has been designed for anyone newly diagnosed with information to help you better understand your diagnosis, test results and various treatments, it is available via the following link or by contacting the helpline:
breastcancercare.org.uk//content.php?page_id=7514
You may find our helpline useful to call during this time for more information about your particular query, they can also give information about our other support services and also offer support and a ‘listening ear’. The number to call is 0808 800 6000 Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm, Saturday, 9am - 2pm.
I hope you find this helpful.
Lucy
Hi Artsee
I’ve not heard of anyone in the UK having this test but you can’t be the first!
The oncotype test is used more widely in the USA. It is a test given to women with er+ tumours with no node involvment. The test examines the genes in the breast cancer and on the basis of some complicated testing decides how high the likelihood of cancer recurrence is. On the basis of the oncotype score the oncologist can then decide whether to offer chemotherapy or not.
It is known that more women get chemotherapy than really need it (for some er+ cancere hormonal treatment alone is superior to chemotherapy) so the test can find out who is really liklely to benefit.
Where are you being treated? Must be a centre of excellence? I think the oncotype test will become much more common in the future.
Good luck with the testing…do also get your oncologist to explain the implications of the results very carefully.
Lucy…moderator.does the BCC resource pack contain details of the oncotype test? Great if it does but could you confirm.
best wishes
Jane
Thank you Jane for your response. Accualy I’m from a town of 50,00 but the cancer clinic is really getting behind the eight ball. It’s just that over two weeks is a long time to wait. The anxiety keeps building, because I’ve got my mind set that it’ll come back that I have to have chemo and that freaks me out.
take care, Artsee
Hi Jane,
Myself and another one of the clinical nurse specialists have been reading in the professional journals and discussing your question today.
Oncoptype testing is still very much in the clinical trail stage at present, and whilst there are encouraging data coming through it isn’t mainstream in hospitals in the UK as yet. I do agree with you that the impressions we are being given is that these are exciting clinical developments, and we can expect to hear more about them in the future as more data from the trails comes through.
At present there is no information about oncotpye testing in the resource packs that you mention Breast Cancer Care have published, and that is because they are still in trail phase.
BW’s
Tara
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Thanks for info. Tara
Jne
Hi Artsee
My dx was similar to yours -1.4cm lump, no nodes, er and pr+ and I wish I had been offered this test. I was just told that the adjuvant on line system said that I had an 88% survival rate afte 10 years with no chemo and a 98% survival rate after 10 years with chemo so obviously I took the chemo. I wish I could have had a test like that to have possibly have avoided chemo.
Let us know how it goes.
Love and Luck
Alise
Hi Artsee
No I have never heard of this test.
I too wish I had known about this test although I was ER-.I was never too happy about chemo and I would have liked additional info to make an informed decision.
JaneR would being ER- exclude me from this test?
Regards