This has puzzled me for a while, can anyone help? If there is cancer in the lymph nodes, it means it's already spread, so how does the OncoType DX give a low score, therefore predicting a recurrence or distant spread is lower risk?
Thanks for the information I didn’t realise that- I only had the test carried out last October. Your question is very interesting - I wonder if your Breast Nurse or Oncologist would have more information
Just found this and wondered if you had any more info as I have just been to my oncologist and would really like to see if I can have the OncoType DX test prior to deciding on next step in treatment as I have just had a mastectomy for Invasive Lobular Grade 2 cancer with just 2 lymph nodes affected following total clearance. My oncologist seemed to say it wasn't possible if you had any possitive lymph nodes at all and I am now veering towards not having chemo as the stats suggest ILC is pretty resistant to chemo anyway.
Am I in the wrong area, and can I find a way to have the test.
I had grade 3 ILC 5cm tumour. I had chemo first, before surgery, and had a partial response. As you say ILC pretty resistant. BUT you don't have cancer any more and the chemo is usually recommended in case there are any stray cells roaming about. To deal with those. Have you looked at the NHS predict tool. The second version. This test will show the expected improvements in life expectancy for with the differing treatments. This tool may help you decide.
Good luck. So much we have to deal with. And our brains are all over the place.
Thanks so much for this. I have looked at the predict tool, but am not exactly sure precisely what it is measuing - is that my overall risk of getting cancer - ie as if I have never had it and am the same as everyone else in the population or my increased risk of it coming back if you see what I mean. I know that sounds a little dense but it makes a massive difference to what the stats are actually saying. - And you say your brain is all over the place, I think I lost mine sometime in the middle of diagnosis and it hasn't come back yet.
My tumour was also 51mm so similar in size and grade 2 downgraded from 3 at biopsy on mastectomy histology results. I have also had full node clearance, so none left to spread it further, and will be having radio on my chest wall as well as hormone therapy afterwards. They didn't give me chemo first as they felt it wouldn't affect the cancer. Hence my dilemma now.
Thank you. Are you going through chemo now. Good luck too and stay as strong as you want. Your response was lovely to get.
I think the predict tool predicts your life expectancy following breast cancer. Doesn't really work for chemo first like I had - but if the same rules applied then my shows chemo gives me a 12% better chance of still being here in 5 years time.
I had 5 rounds of chemo before mastectomy. 3 EC and 2 Docetaxol. I am 12 weeks post mastectomy and DIEP. But I still haven't healed (boob) and so radiotherapy to chest walk and neck nodes can't commence. The surgeon only had very thin skin to work with to the underside of the flap and this broke down. I have a 70mm x 50mm open wound which will not heal. Been to hospital again today for dressing changes and trying something else. Back again a week on Wednesday.
Such a hard decision. I wonder what I would have decided with hindsight? My oncologist did say he felt the two most effective treatments were surgery and hormone therapy.
Wow, you have had a marathon and it isn't over. So sorry to hear that the wound is so bad and that you didn't have your planned reconstruction either, though with the wound as it is probably just as well, but even so, that is sooooo hard, and it must seem like an age since your operation.
I have been recommended 3 EC and 3 Docetaxol if I do have chemo. Still have no idea what to do. I am 50 with a very active life as a full time single mum of two amazing teenage boys and a full time job. - or at least it was full time before this.
I so hope that you heal soon, that the falls stop and the dizzyiness and that things can start to move forwards again for you. It isn't easy to not have any treatment drs involved too as that limbo is difficult.
I had OncoType Dx, my Breast Cancer was Invasive Ductal 4.5CM and I had 2 micromets as I probably stated in my original post. I had a Mastectomy and SNB so was told the mets were in 2 out of 4 nodes, my Surgeon wouldn't take me back to Theatre for more nodes removed as he said they were only micromets (ONLY!!). The OncoType DX gave me a low risk score and EndoPredict gave me a high risk score! The OncoType DX can be requested for 1-3 positive nodes in ER positive, HER2 negative BC, I'm not sure if it can be used for Lobular, your Breast Nurse should be able to tell you, OncoType DX have a website that is quite informative. The NHS Predict Tool looks at both 5 and 10 year survival estimates both with and without adjuvant therapy following BC Surgery.
Do you know the size of cancer in your positive nodes?
I'm interested in you having a node clearance, my Surgeon said he hardly does any!!
