Onco Test

[las2357]

I had my surgery on 10/28 and glad its over.  I can't believe a week has gone by already.  I spoke to my doctor late Monday and she told me the pathology report showed Estrogen/Progestorone +/HER2- and the lymph nodes were negative.  She said the tumor was 2.7 cm and said chemo was probably 50/50.  It's being sent out for the onco test to see which way to go.  I am 52 and post menopausal.  I will be picking up the pathology report tomorrow.  Does anyone have any experience with the onco test?

[zouzi]

Hi,
I am glad to know that your surgery is over and you seem to be doing well.I don't have any personal experience with the Oncotype test,but I have found some information for you and I hope that it will help you understand what this test means.

The purpose for Oncotype test is a decision making process for women with early stage breast cancer,ER/PR positive,Her2 negative and whose lymph nodes are negative.The test result is reported as a "Recurrence Score" that ranges from 0 to 100.The higher the RS the higher the risk of recurrence.So I presume that the lowest RS you'll have with this test,the less likely you will need chemo.Best wishes and God Bless...

[Louise414]

My oncologist ordered the Oncotype DX test.  I too had ER/PR+ Her2- with the lymph nodes negative.  It is expensive, although in my case, it was all covered by my health insurance.  The test gives you a score and a prediction as to the likelihood of recurrence, although they don't and certainly can't guarantee the likelihood of recurrence.  In my case, the score came back as an 11, which is a low score, indicating the cancer has a relatively low likelihood of recurrence.  They also give you information on how sensitive the cancer is to estrogen and progesterone.  In both instances, the oncotype analysis indicated that my cancer was very positively affected by both estrogen and progesterone.  It takes a few weeks for the results to come back, and I actually did one round of chemotherapy, before I got the results, which indicated the benefit of chemotherapy in my case was rather low.  On the other hand knowing that the tumor was quite receptive to both estrogen and progesterone helped me to accept the aromatase inhibitor prescription given to me by my oncologist. The test suggested that the benefit of that treatment would be quite high. I have been taking the aromatase inhibitor for about a month now with relatively minimal side effects.  My doctor really wanted me to continue with the chemotherapy, but the test indicated very little benefit from it, and I was so wiped out by it, that mentally, I don't think I could have handled it. using the information I received from the OncotypeDX people, I calculated the likely benefit of chemotherapy as less than 1% on 10 year survival.

[alidi]

Hi Louise: thanks for all that knowledge, I am also PR AND ER+ and HER NEGATIVE
My surgery is scheduled in two weeks . my Oncologist said he would not know if
the lymph nodes are negative until surgery is done.the Total score is 8. when is the
Oncotype test is done.?Is it done after surgery or at the time of surgery? my diagnosis
Invasibe Carcinoma. I wish you well, and Thanks to anyone who can answer this questions.