Oncotype testing

Hi

I was in a similar position to you except grade 2. I had oncotype test which did determine I needed chemo after my surgery which I wasn’t expecting. However once I got my head around it I had the chemo which though unpleasant was more manageable than I expected. Also because of the oncotype test I am now about to start on Ribociclib as my test score means I am at higher risk of a recurrence. I decided to go with whatever my oncologist recommended as ultimately he knows a lot more than I do and I trust him. Hope your personal journey goes as well as it can. X 

Hi Spud,

I was in the same position as you, almost the same type/size of cancer, I wasn't expecting to have chemo as my surgeon had said all along just radiotherapy and aromatase inhibitors but my Prosigna showed I was high risk.

 I have to have chemo, then radio, then ribociclib for a few years as well as the aromatase inhibitor and Zometa. I'm glad I read your post because you said you would take chemo if offered. I am scared although I know it would be better for me.

I'm encouraged to read the post from Riamd as  her chemo was more manageable than expected :)

I didn't have the percentage benefit of chemo given to me, maybe if they tell me that I would be able to say that the side effects are worth it. I'm in my 60's with a family history of cardiac problems and I'm mainly worried about the non-reversible side effects like cardio toxicity and neuropathy. I wasn't offered a choice, just accelerated dose dense ECT.

So perhaps that's a question to ask once you get your result, what percentage benefit the chemo will give you?

I wish you all the best with your result and hope it's low risk x

How old are you if you don’t mind sharing?

I was also her 2 negative, ER positive and grade 3. I had mastectomy and 1 sentinel node affected but main lymph nodes clear. 

My oncotype score was 26. Anything over 25 if you are pre-menopausal is high risk for distant recurrence and would benefit from chemo. The oncologist said it was more the grade than the type of cancer which was important when deciding on chemo. 

I completed 12 sessions of chemo on 4th Aug and it was absolutely fine so please don’t worry about doing it. I feel better that my body has had a “flush through” to get rid of anything sinister. 

I now face the decision of whether to do radiotherapy or not. 

Hi Spud4110275a9c 

My cancer diagnosis was same as yours apart from my lump was 4.1cm and 1 lymph node involved. I was told at the outset I would need chemo as I am 45 years old grade 3 tumor and it was over 2cm. 

If given a choice I would gave it because I couldn't live with myself if I said no and it was then found somewhere else in my body in a few years. But I appreciate everyone has to make the right  decision for them. 

I start chemo in a week. 

Hi, I was the same as you, but grade 2,  altho the 2cm tumor was actually 28mm when it was removed.,l Ialso had a 2nd surgery to get a clearer margin at one side, no lymph nodes affected. They said from the start it would be lumpectomy and radiotherapy most likely. My onco score came back very low (5) so thankfully I didnt need chemo.

Hi Spud
My diagnosis was very similar to yours, but my tumour was 2 cms, grade 3, node negative. Unfortunately, the oncotype testing failed, it happens sometimes, and my oncologist  then recommended I have 4 rounds of chemo at 3 weekly intervals. My last one is tomorrow. Like others have said, I haven't found it as bad as I thought I might. My oncologist did say that it was highly probable that if the oncotype had been done it would have come back over 25 so chemo would have been recommended anyway - due to the Grade 3 status. In some ways I felt a bit fortunate that chemo was offered, I just wanted to take anything that would reduce the risk of recurrence.
Have you looked at the NHS online Predict tool? Google it - you want v3 which is the latest. It gives the likely improvements in reducing recurrence from the options available based on statistics of other breast cancer patients with your pathology profile, age etc. It will give you some idea of whether chemo is likely to be beneficial - but the oncotype IS based on your own makeup of 21 genes so would give a more specific picture of whether chemo would be likely to be beneficial or not for you.

Good luck and come back and tell us when you have the oncotype result.