Oncotype score and treatment plan

Hi  

It’s so scary isn’t it.

I had a lumpectomy stage 2, grade 2 and all my lymph nodes on that side removed. My cancer had spread to 2 out of the 10 removed.

i was 53 at diagnosis but still peri menopausal. As my cancer was hormone fed my oncologist recommended chemotherapy followed by 15 Radiotherapy.

i had 4x EC chemo and 4 Paclitaxel then a 3 week week break before starting Radiotherapy and starting Tamoxifen.

it’s difficult to know what the right thing is to do, no one wants the chemo etc but you want to be led by the experts really. Have it if it’s worth it.

My Oncologist said she wouldn’t offer the treatment if it wouldn’t help ‍♀️xxxx

What is the score at which they would routinely offer chaemo? And does the score take into account your age? I’m about to lose all my under arm lymph nodes on the strength of 1 out 2 sentinels taken being affected but have heard recently that my surgeon has a rep for being somewhat gung ho. I’m 77 all but and my circs maybe different from SKnight but I empathise with your desire for more info!

Hi

My oncotype score was 58 with a grade 2 tumour at 16mm, raised to a grade 3 tumour at 26mm after surgery and removal of lymph nodes which was to test if it had spread. Fortunately it hadn't. They said that we caught it early and my age played a factor. 

This was 14months ago. Looking back I feel I had the best team I could ask for. Not sure if it was just the Yorkshire way of (I'm from south of England originally) but the whole team, from surgeons to Oncology to Radiology, were very "This is the plan" "We are doing this, this and this". I feel that they had the plan from the day I walked into the 1st consultation.

To some degree I was thankful that they didn't leave the decisions to me else I probably wouldn't have any of the treatment. I was so scared and confused. I had 3x EC and then 9 Paclitaxel with a PICC line. Then 10 radiotherapy. I was 45 years old at diagnosis. 

I have to take Tamoxifen for the next 7 years

I wish you all the best and I'm sure you will do what is best for your journey

Have you looked at the NHS Predict test online? That is useful for getting some idea what the reduction in recurrence rates are for each of the treatments available. It takes into account your age as well as other things specific to you. 19 is a low score as I expect you know. Usually you avoid chemo if your score is under 25 as at that score your particular gene mix indicates that it wouldn't really give much benefit.
I had 4 round of the same chemo mix you are being offered, at 3 week intervals. I'm 5 weeks out from the last one and have also completed 5 days radiotherapy. None of it was as bad as I had anticipated, although it obviously isn't very pleasant. I think I got away lightly. I am now on Anastazole (rather than Lezatrole) and have been offered Ribociclib but will probably turn that down as the likely added benefit is tiny for me (about 1%) and I have other health issues that it could possibly have a negative effect on. 
Only you can decide. I know a lot of us go for anything that is offered on the basis that if it was turned down, and then it returned, doubtless we would wonder whether that extra treatment might have made the difference. 
Good luck whatever you decide to do.