Onyxtype dx very stressed

Hi. I hope you are ok. I just wanted to say, my oncotype came back as 26 which upset me also, 12% risk of distant recurrence it said. Wish they didn’t give us this info. They said I would benefit from chemo but there were no stats available to say how much the chemo would reduce the risk by. 

How old are you? As I am 41 and pre-menopausal 26 was in the bracket for chemo. If I was post menopausal it was higher so depending on your age you might not need it. 

Hi Sparkle ,

Thank you  for replying  . It makes it a very difficult decision.  I am 60 a d post menopausal. 

Did you have the chemotherapy?

Xx

The recommendation for chemo was a score of 25 or above for pre menopausal and the score for post menopausal was I’m sure 30 something. It was definitely more than 26 for post menopausal. 

Have they suggested a chemo regime for you?

Yes, I have completed 10 sessions out of 12 of chemo. I honestly thought if I ever needed it id only need 6 maximum. How wrong was I. 

Aww bless you I hope your coping  okay with it. I am still waiting to see the oncologist.  The cut off for my age is 25 and I'm 26.  So I will have to wait until I speak to them.  You are nearly finished though  now xx

Hi Moonshine10 Sparkle498uk 

When is this onyx type test done? Is it when they have taken the lump out? I had a lumpectomy on Thursday last week and results 16th July. 

I am 44 and they have already told me I will have chemo even if its not in the nodes. They said due to my age they want to give me the best possible chance but nobody has discussed any scores with me yet. 

 Sparkle498uk how did your chemo go? You said you had 10 sessions? How often was it and how did you feel? 

Sending hugs.  X

Hi Acharge80!

So yes they sent off the cells from the breast cancer rather than the lymph nodes. They did this after I had axillary lymph node removal and had the results of that back. It goes to America so took about 3 weeks. 

Ah yes, I’m similar age to you, 41 and they told me the same. The oncologist said regardless of what the oncotype came back with they would have recommended chemo anyway because of the grade of the cancer (3) and my age. My breast nurse said they always give chemo under 50 as we have more life ahead of us and want us to have the best possible outcome. 

My friend had exactly the same as me except she had 1 node affected in her axillary nodes (I had none). She is 67 and was told she didn’t need chemo. They did oncotype on her too which was 6. I find it very strange hers was so low compared to mine when we had the exact same type (we compared our notes from pathology). And I always understood that if any lymph nodes were affected then you would definitely need chemo but obviously not the case for her. 

So I’ve had 9 weekly sessions of carboplatin and paclitaxal. Carboplatin because I am a brca2 gene carrier. I coped with them fine, I suffered with constipation and a bloody nose. I got really bad hayfever (was told this was normal as more susceptible). Also got tingling in my hands which I thought was neuropathy but since been told I have low potassium and a sign of that is tingling in hands so thinking it could have been that. 

I’ve just had 1 session last Monday of a different drug EC. I will be having 3 sessions in total of this every 3 weeks. I’ve suffered with constipation again resulting in painful piles and just a general feeling of feeling “off” can’t quite place if it is nausea or groggy etc and feeling more tired than I did on the first lot. 

I have still been working throughout and going about my normal life, going out, doing the chores around the house etc. 

I hope that helps but here if you have any other questions xxx