As I understand it the Oncotype test is carried out for early invasive cancer only, it determines if chemotherapy would be beneficial to patients. My status after surgery was Grade 2 Stage I, no lymph node involvement, clear margins, Er8 Pr8 HER-, my Oncotype score was 12 therefore no chemotherapy benefit, so I’ve had radiotherapy followed by hormone therapy.
Because the cut-off score is slightly different for women roughly at the age of menopause. It's only for ER+ cancers, and usually grade 1 or 2. Grade 3 would normally mean chemo as it's more aggressive as would TN and HER2+.
“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Stephen Hawking,
Hi I was offered one on Tuesday, I’m 54, grade 2 stage 2 lobular oestrogen positive, 2/4 nodes positive, I was thinking about it when the nurse came back after printing off the pathology report for me and said it’s HER2 positive so chemo anyway xx
Hi, this was automatically done after my surgery ( mastectomy, lymph nodes and margins all clear ),my score came back high so now having to decide whether to have chemo as well as hormone meds ( causing me more anxiety)…..apparently it’s only done for certain types of bc as stated by Eline xx
Hi. Yes I was ER + (8/8) grade 1 stage 1/2 I was offered it but at a cost because I had 1 auxiliary node positive. Any auxiliary and it costs. Sentinal positive doesn’t cost and is offered. The predict score only added 1% benefit for me with chemo. 4% and over you get chemo anyway. I paid because it actually looks at your cancer and it’s cells etc. And predicts a reoccurrence score. I needed it to be under 25 as I am post menopausal. My score was 11 so just having radiotherapy. It really helped making a decision especially being told chemo side effects.
Hi - I was wondering how big your lump was if you don’t mind. My diagnosis is the same as yours but they have said no to the Oncotype test as I am low risk but everything I’ve read says this test is for early breast cancer no movement to the lymph node. I have challenged but still a ‘no’.
No, I don’t mind at all. Invasive tumour size was 20mm, whole tumour size was 28mm. Who has refused you the test, surgeon or oncologist? I ask because my surgeon told me she was waiting for the result before I was passed on to oncology. However at my first oncology appointment I found out that my test hadn’t even been sent off, oncologist was away and blamed other staff, she then tried to talk me out of having the test done and said “The cancer’s been removed, you don’t have cancer any more”. She then went on to ask me if I would accept chemotherapy if my Oncotype score was high. I was so upset at her attitude that I called the BCN as soon as I left the appointment and the breast clinic sorted it out, the test was sent off the next day.
Has your consultant explained why you are considered low risk?
