Oncotype DX Test

Hi Tracey  / 

Waiting Oncotype tests can seem to take forever when so much is kept hanging on the result :-/

Worse section is intermediate where they quite often leave the decision on chemo or not up to you.

The image below is the Oncotype recurrence scoring scale.

Obviously the lower the better but keep your fingers crossed for anything 18 or under 

Hope this is of some help, G n' J

hi Tracey

waiting is hard, I had to wait three weeks after my mastectomy to get the path results 

I was told I'd 'only' got DCIS and would 'only' need a mastectomy, was also told I was over anxious as it was all nothing to worry about.

Then the results came back Her2+ and I was getting scanned quicker than you could say chemo, which was 'always' recommended for Her2+.

I said the exact same thing, every time I went back it was more bad news. I don't remember how I felt when I went back for the bone and CAP scan results, other than annoyed, since my husband had dumped our son on me and I had to leave him shopping on his own as it was completely out of the question he would want to sit around in the hospital. Thankfully the scans were clear but that was hardly reassuring since I'd had a 'clear' mammogram in 2012, which clearly wasn't when we looked at it in 2015 and the imaging team had missed a lesion which then popped up as a lump and the surgeon carefully cut around it.

I don't think you'll have as much trouble as I did. 

On the whole tamoxifen works well at controlling the hormones which contributed to the breast cancer and though it used to be for five years they are now recommending ten years. 

However, and this is just my opinion but could be worth a discussion with your team, relative age ought to be considered, if you were under 50 I'd say ten years but over 50, and we are all different, might be a case of take the 5 year deal but reconsider at the end of the 5 years. 

Oncotype info here

https://www.nhs.uk/news/cancer/breast-cancer-test-reduces-need-for-chemotherapy/

Since I had Her2+ breast cancer it wasn't appropriate for me but I really didn't want chemo, my husband was always totally controlling about my hair and I knew he'd freak out if/when it all fell out, and he did. 

People didn't recognise me, it was very strange, I hadn't realised that most people recognise us by our hair.

My oncologist sat with me and talked me through everything, very thoroughly, after the surgeon's f**k up I was now a paranoid patient. 

Chemo isn't pleasant but you do what you need to do and in my case she made it quite clear I would be an idiot to refuse.

With ER+ breast cancer they do weigh up the pros and cons. did they talk you through the 'Predict' test ?

https://breast.predict.nhs.uk/tool

hugs

Carolyn

xxx

Thank  you for your replies and Carolyn28.   The graph has really helped and at least when I go on the 14th Jan I will have some information and knowledge when I am given my result, fingers crossed it will be under 18.   I havent read up on Chemo or what it entails as I thought I would do this if the result came back unfavourable! 

I have just turned 53, I still have my periods, thought I was going through the menopause  a little while ago as I had to have an Ablation as I had fibroids and polyps.  But I have returned to a normal cycle now.   I too had a mammogram done under 14 months ago and was told I was clear, then I found an indentation which was the tumour, which was then 2 tumours.   So not sure whether these were missed or they are fast growing, I suppose this is why i am having this test.    I had a Lumpectomy on the 26th November.   I escaped a Mastectomy as both tumours where near each other.   

Thank you for the links I will take a look at them.  

Tracey

Hey Cherryjim,

I went through a very similar experience to you where my surgeon had told me that I won't be needing chemotherapy but when I saw my oncologist, she informed me that I may need chemotherapy based upon my Oncotype test results.

Waiting for the test was extremely stressful however I'm glad I got the test done. My Oncotype DX test score was 13, which is supposed to be not too bad (low risk) so the Oncologist informed me that there would be absolutely no benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. The test basically determines recurrence by testing genes, micromets (0.2mm-2.00mm) negative nodes and 1-3 positive nodes. 

Hope that your test readings come out low as well, 

Best wishes,

SVB

Hi All,  

I have my appointment tomorrow to get the results of my Oncotype DX Test.    I got a call from my Oncologist last week saying results would be back  by last Friday.   I hadn't heard anything from her, so I called today just to make sure the results were back and it was still ok to go to the appointment tomorrow. 

I spoke with her secretary who said that my Oncologist still wants me to go tomorrow to discuss the first lot of results that have come back.    But the second test results aren't back yet?  I bit confused can anyone shred any light on this as I thought there was only one test done, why is there two tests?

Any help would be great.   I am pleased they have not cancelled the appointment tomorrow as I am in a bit of a muddle and just want to get there and get results and then get my head around what treatment I need to have and get on with it.  It is the not knowing that is doing me in somewhat.

Tracey 

Hi

I hope your OcoType DX result comes back on the low side. There are quite a few of us on this site who have had clear mammogram results and then been diagnosed.  I had OncoType and with a 4.5CM tumour the score was 11. I had a routine mammogram in the October, felt a lump in the December, saw GP twice and he convinced me as I'd had a clear mammogram everything was fine and not to worry, he was wrong it was 5CM of which 4.5 was Invasive tumour and 0.5CM was DCIS and the tumour was strongly hormone dependent. Team tried to convince me it had got to the size in a few months, Macmillan told me otherwise and that hormone dependent tumours are slow growing.  

Please update us with your results.

Hey Cherryjim,

I assumed that Oncotype DX test was just one test as mine is one consolidated report but maybe it varies. Try not to worry too much about it and all the best for your appointment. 

Best wishes,

SVB