Diagnosed sept with 30mm grade 2 hormone receptor positive her2 negative 2x biopsies of lymph nodes which came back negative. Had lumpectomy 5 week ago and they took 2 lymph nodes to be tested still. Came back negative a 3rd time which was good to hear. I have been started on tamoxifen and ive had results of the oncotype test my score was 28. I just dont know what to do if I'm honest I wanted to avoid chemotherapy if I could but I'm boarder line as the oncologist put it. She said she would like me have it but shes just over the fence on that decision. I asked what kind of risk am I taking by saying no, she showed me a chart and basically said it would be 15% less chance by having chemo of a cancer coming back. I'm 37 with 2 children 10 and 6. Anybody else been in same situation with results and dont know what to do? Thanks
No mine was never sent off for the oncotype testing, i think my oncologist just used the NHS predict tool which was where he got the figure of 7-10%. I know how you are feeling, i had many a sleepless night and it does consume all your time thinking about it. Is it possible for you to have another chat with your team at all to discuss your thoughts and ask them for a copy of your oncotype results so you could discuss with your partner before making a decision?
You feel that 15% isn’t a lot, I feel that an extra 15% is massive, it’s about perspective. Someone is telling you you have an extra 15% chance to live. I had cancer when my daughter was 4, now it’s back and she’s 12, my answer everyday of the week is you are young, give yourself every chance of survival. If your cancer reoccurs you may wish you’d taken all the treatment offered. Chemo isn’t easy, nobody will claim that, it is horrible loosing your hair and dealing with the side effects but somehow you just get through it. It’s a tough choice an ultimately your decision but that’s my view, wishing you all the very best and so sorry you find yourself here x
Sorry to hear you have had recurrence. If you dont mind me asking did you have Chemo the first time at all? I totally respect what you have just said I never really looked at it that way I think it is fearing the side effects of Chemo that's all. x
Yes, I have to catch myself sometimes when I feel I can’t face certain tests or procedures. Like “hang on, I’m not doing this for no reason - I’ve actually got cancer!”. And then I freak out for a bit before telling myself the hospital knows what they’re doing and most breast cancer patients are cured or at least treated so they can live a long life
I understand that, it is incredibly daunting, really is, no I wasn’t offered it, but if I had been offered it I would’ve taken it. My current chemo is increasing my chances by 13% according to predict and the herceptin adds about another 10%, I’m holding on to every percentage I can!! It’s your choice and I’d never judge anyone for making a different one to me but having just gone round 7 chemo, yes it’s tough, some days tougher than others, some ok, but I know I’ve given myself the best chance available to me for now xxx
I think what I couldn't get my head around was that I got good news that the lymph nodes were negative and the margin from the lumpectomy was also clear. From having that news I was relieved and thought that radiotherapy would be enough to target that area anyway. My left side showed nothing on mammogram. I have started tamoxifen also. I did speak to the nurse yesterday as I am really struggling to come to a decision based on what good news has come from tests so far other than the oncotype score been 28. She said to me that although margins and lymph nodes were clear small particles can get into the blood stream which I is the 1st I've heard of that so that itself obviously scares me but this hasnt been said before by oncologist or consultant. Just feel now that the best outcome I had from the surgery has now been destroyed and left me with a massive decision to make. X
Your oncoscore is a bit high. I was a bit borderline with one aspect of the radiotherapy. I asked Radiotherapy Consultant what she'd do in my position and simply took her advice, which was to have the most radiotherapy they could give to prevent re-occurence. I think 15% is a big figure personally. My way of dealing with things is to think, what if in say 2 years time the cancer comes back and how am I going to feel if I am living with the knowledge that I was given the opportunity to try to prevent the re-occurrence 2 years before and refused to do it ? I am the same with my hormone therapy, I don't like the side effects, but if it's going to cut down the re-occurrence of a horrible cancer which isn't easily detected until its done some very bad damage and will kill me, I'm prepared to put up with it.
