Guest guest Posted January 21, 2007 Report Share Posted January 21, 2007 I am new to this group. has anyone had any experience with oncotype dx? My oncologist is pushing this test because I really don't think chemo is the best choice for me. I can deal with radiation and tomoxifin, but think chemo's down side out weights the up side. I am 49, almost through menopause and have stage I non-node cancer. I had a lumpectomy 1 month ago. I would really appriciate any experience with this test and feed back from others in my like situation. Kathie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2007 Report Share Posted January 21, 2007 I was diagnosed in 1990 way before this was used. But there was some discussion on this awhile back. Hopefully someone will get back with you. Hugs nne Breast Cancer Patients Soul Mates for Life http://www.geocities.com/chucky5741/breastcancerpatients.html BreastCancerStories.com http://www.breastcancerstories.com/content/view/433/161/ Angel Feather Loomer www.angelfeatherloomer.blogspot.com Check out my other ornaments at www.geocities.com/chucky5741/bcornament.html Lots of info and gifts at: www.cancerclub.com oncotype dx I am new to this group. has anyone had any experience with oncotype dx? My oncologist is pushing this test because I really don't think chemo is the best choice for me. I can deal with radiation and tomoxifin, but think chemo's down side out weights the up side. I am 49, almost through menopause and have stage I non-node cancer. I had a lumpectomy 1 month ago. I would really appriciate any experience with this test and feed back from others in my like situation. Kathie ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.410 / Virus Database: 268.17.3/642 - Release Date: 1/20/2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2007 Report Share Posted January 21, 2007 > Hi Kathie; You're one of the lucky ones with early, node-negative BC who can possibly avoid the chemo without changing your likelihood of recurrence. The oncotype test checks 21 genes that have been identified in the DNA of BC tumor cells. These 21 genes have significance in terms of the individual tumor's ability to invade specific organs and to obtain blood supply, etc. Everyone's tumor has its own individual genetic characteristics. The laboratory that does the test will get a small sample of the tumor that was removed from your breast. The DNA will be extracted from the cells, and those specific 21 genes will be identified. Based on the genetic makeup of your tumor, the laboratory will give you a prediction of how likely your tumor is to recurr. If you are in a low risk group, then you can avoid the chemo and know that you haven't changed your odds of survival by skipping it. If you are in a high risk group, then you might want to reconsider whether you have the chemo since it might actually be helpful in terms of increasing your chances for successful results. Unfortunately, many people find that they are in the intermediate risk group, which means that they still have to make the decision about having chemo or not. The test is not cheap ( about $4,000.) and not all insurance companies will cover it, so you should check this out before you agree to have it. I hope this info is helpful to you. Best of luck, Anne V. > I am new to this group. has anyone had any experience with oncotype > dx? My oncologist is pushing this test because I really don't think > chemo is the best choice for me. I can deal with radiation and > tomoxifin, but think chemo's down side out weights the up side. I am > 49, almost through menopause and have stage I non-node cancer. I had a > lumpectomy 1 month ago. > > I would really appriciate any experience with this test and feed back > from others in my like situation. > > Kathie > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2007 Report Share Posted January 21, 2007 No real experience, but I am in a clinical trial where I am having an oncotype test on my tumor. If the number is high, I get chemo. If the number is low, I don't. If the number is in the middle, I am randomly assigned to either get chemo or not. I will be getting hormone therapy later as well. My tumor is T2N0. My oncologist explained that they don't really know which women will benefit from chemo and which women won't. This clinical trial may help them decide who actually needs chemo. I should find out this week if I get chemo. > > I am new to this group. has anyone had any experience with oncotype > dx? My oncologist is pushing this test because I really don't think > chemo is the best choice for me. I can deal with radiation and > tomoxifin, but think chemo's down side out weights the up side. I am > 49, almost through menopause and have stage I non-node cancer. I had a > lumpectomy 1 month ago. > > I would really appriciate any experience with this test and feed back > from others in my like situation. > > Kathie > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2007 Report Share Posted January 21, 2007 kathy - do you know what your her2 status was? marisa (i had the oncotype dx done, but because I was her2+, I got chemo - even though I was stage 1, node negative, clear-margined... -- In breastcancer2 , " kathie " wrote: > > I am new to this group. has anyone had any experience with oncotype > dx? My oncologist is pushing this test because I really don't think > chemo is the best choice for me. I can deal with radiation and > tomoxifin, but think chemo's down side out weights the up side. I am > 49, almost through menopause and have stage I non-node cancer. I had a > lumpectomy 1 month ago. > > I would really appriciate any experience with this test and feed back > from others in my like situation. > > Kathie > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2007 Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 Kathy - I also had a Stage I B/C and am 49 like you. I had a lumpectomy and then chose, because of my Staging - which was a Grade 3 - to have 4 rounds of A/C chemo. I had no nodes involved either and clean margins on the tumor which was small. The real key in deciding to do the chemo for me was the Grade. Grade 3 means that the cells were " poorly differentiated. " If I had tested a lower grade, I would probably not have chosen the chemo and just had radiation and the Tamoxifin. Ellen > > > > Hi Kathie; You're one of the lucky ones with early, node-negative BC who can possibly > avoid the chemo without changing your likelihood of recurrence. The oncotype test checks > 21 genes that have been identified in the DNA of BC tumor cells. These 21 genes have > significance in terms of the individual tumor's ability to invade specific organs and to > obtain blood supply, etc. Everyone's tumor has its own individual genetic characteristics. > The laboratory that does the test will get a small sample of the tumor that was removed > from your breast. The DNA will be extracted from the cells, and those specific 21 genes > will be identified. Based on the genetic makeup of your tumor, the laboratory will give you > a prediction of how likely your tumor is to recurr. If you are in a low risk group, then you > can avoid the chemo and know that you haven't changed your odds of survival by skipping > it. If you are in a high risk group, then you might want to reconsider whether you have the > chemo since it might actually be helpful in terms of increasing your chances for successful > results. > > Unfortunately, many people find that they are in the intermediate risk group, which means > that they still have to make the decision about having chemo or not. The test is not cheap > ( about $4,000.) and not all insurance companies will cover it, so you should check this > out before you agree to have it. I hope this info is helpful to you. Best of luck, Anne V. > > > > > > I am new to this group. has anyone had any experience with oncotype > > dx? My oncologist is pushing this test because I really don't think > > chemo is the best choice for me. I can deal with radiation and > > tomoxifin, but think chemo's down side out weights the up side. I am > > 49, almost through menopause and have stage I non-node cancer. I had a > > lumpectomy 1 month ago. > > > > I would really appriciate any experience with this test and feed back > > from others in my like situation. > > > > Kathie > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2007 Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 : My tumor has already been sent out. I should hear beginning of next week. Let me know how yours turns out! I will pray for a low number for both of us. Kathie > > > > I am new to this group. has anyone had any experience with oncotype > > dx? My oncologist is pushing this test because I really don't think > > chemo is the best choice for me. I can deal with radiation and > > tomoxifin, but think chemo's down side out weights the up side. I > am > > 49, almost through menopause and have stage I non-node cancer. I had > a > > lumpectomy 1 month ago. > > > > I would really appriciate any experience with this test and feed > back > > from others in my like situation. > > > > Kathie > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 22, 2007 Report Share Posted January 22, 2007 Thanks, Kathie. Emotionally, I think I can handle a high number too. That would mean I really do need chemo. I've been waiting to hear about mine for almost 3 weeks. Good luck! > > > > > > I am new to this group. has anyone had any experience with > oncotype > > > dx? My oncologist is pushing this test because I really don't > think > > > chemo is the best choice for me. I can deal with radiation and > > > tomoxifin, but think chemo's down side out weights the up side. > I > > am > > > 49, almost through menopause and have stage I non-node cancer. I > had > > a > > > lumpectomy 1 month ago. > > > > > > I would really appriciate any experience with this test and feed > > back > > > from others in my like situation. > > > > > > Kathie > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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