Talk to me about NHS Predict and Oncotype test

Hi Choccygirl

The Oncotype is a test to see if you need chemo or not.  As far as I'm aware from what others have said on this forum your surgeon sends a sample to the United States for testing.  The test usually takes about two to three weeks to come back. Whether they do the test depends on which hospital trust you are getting your cancer treatment at. Mention it to your consultant when you go for your Post-Op appointment.

Wishing you the best of luck with your appointment next week.

Best wishes

Daisy53

Hi, sorry to hear that you aren't getting support at such a difficult time 

I had my biopsy sent for oncotype DX test in America but had to pay £3.5K as my health trust don't pay for it. The score enabled the oncologist to recommend no chemo.

Speak to your surgeon & oncologist. Your oncologist should so be able to talk to you about predict

Best wishes x 

In my experience the surgical teams deal with surgery, and leave discussions about whether chemo is appropriate to the oncology team, When I received feedback following surgery, I was given pathology details, and then referred on to oncology. I was disappointed by this as I had rather naively expected a one stop shop on results day. NHS Predict Breast is an analysis of historical cases and probably gives you a good idea of whether they are likely to recommend chemo or not. As I have TNBC, Oncotype wasn’t offered to me, I would imagine for ER* it’s offered when the oncologist doesn’t have a clear recommendation. 

Don't forget to work out the difference from the other causes figure,  not 100%. Without chemo it's 6% at 10 years and 10% at 15 years. If your nodes are clear or only slightly affected than most areas will run the oncotype test,  but they can't do that until after surgery.

No contact from your bcn isn't good. They should of been in touch regarding your dressings. It was my surgeon who mentioned the oncotype test as the multi disciplinary team couldn't give clear recommendation on further treatment but my oncologist who have me the results. My research said a score below 15 no benefit from chemo so just radiotherapy between 15 and 30 there's a discussion to be had and over 30 definite benefit from chemo. Mine came back with a score of 29 so chemo while a shock was a no brainer for my husband and I. And don't forget if you decline treatment you may have issue with holiday insurance as one question they ask is have you ever declined treatment.

Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond...really appreciate it...I think I just struggle not being in control of everything...and I am just not one to complain or ask for help ...I just strive to continue life as normally as possible for everyone...will be glad when Friday comes as then at least another hurdle overcome!   

Hi 

How it worked for me was:

Surgery (therapeutic mammoplasty) and sentinel node biopsy

Results, clear margins but 2 lymph nodes affected 

Scans to check if there was any visible spread (luckily negative) 

Axillary clearance to remove as many lymph nodes as possible, they got 10, all negative 

The qualified me for an Oncotype test (I think the max is 3 affected) waited 3 weeks for the results, came back very low, so no chemo, just referred to the radiotherapy team.

Predict was mentioned very early on, but the Oncotype test was the one that the surgeon / MDT relied on to decide the best next step. 

my experience. lumpectomy and sentinel, sentinel showed micrometastase, other lymphs clear, no more lumph clearance but oncotest came back 35, chemo suggested. gobsmacked, dejected sad, but doing it

Hi choccygirl, I was recommended for the Oncotype DX clinical trial by my Oncologist. This was a few days after she had recommended I have 6 chemo and 15 radio. I had nothing to lose. She said I ticked all the boxes - my age (slightly older than u), post menopausal, cancer in the lymph nodes, oestrogen+, hers2 -. It will be a year this Friday - 04.08.23 since I had a lumpectomy on the left side together with removal of most of my lymph nodes. The tumour was described as sizeable at 33 mms. My Oncotype results came back in about 10 days with a score of 11!! It was like winning the lottery. The Oncologist told me that the results wud be scored between 1 and 100. Anything under 25 means it wud do u more harm than good to have the chemo. I then went on to have the recommended 15 rounds of radio which finished mid October. Good luck with the rest of ur journey.

Hi Choccygirl

I wanted to say similar here.

I haven’t had contact from BCN I was given their number to ring them if I had any query. I rang them with my questions when I had to remove my dressings.

Also no mention by anyone of NHS Predict, although I have put all my info in so I know the numbers.

And no mention of Oncotype test either, I think that may perhaps be because mine was lobular which I’ve read doesn’t respond well to chemo. I was going to ask about it, but my mind when blank at that appointment even though I had it written down I still forgot

Sending you best wishes for Friday xx