OncoTypeDX

I just got back from my first appointment with my medical oncologist. She said that I have one (out of three potential) negative marks against my cancer that she's concerned about.

She is sending my tumor tissue out to a company for a test called OncoTypeDX. She told me it will come back with a number to determine my risk factor. If that number is low to medium, she is okay with not having me do chemo.

However, if that number is high, (and I had to agree to this before they ordered the test and sent the sample), then we are on the same page that chemo will be administered (in addition to the hormone therapy).

Does anyone have any experience with this?



M.

Thank you Sandra.

My oncologist didn't get into it a whole lot because, the way she put it, she didn't want to get ahead of ourselves, bombard me with information that, at this point, may or may not be relevant.

So I'm in another holding pattern until those results come back, waiting to see what my score is.

Just when I think I have a grip on what to expect, I get surprised with more goodies on my plate that I may, (or may not) have to swallow.



M.

I thought arimidex was supposed to be the better choice, over tamoxifen?

I have so many orthopedic problems, I can't imagine adding to them.

It's always something...



M.

I find out next Wednesday.

But to be honest, I am having second thoughts about this. I've had already had three surgeons and my radiation oncologist tell me they firmly believed I should not need chemo, so something doesn't feel right.

And to be honest, she's the only member of my CA team that I'm not comfortable with, personally and generally. I love the rest of my team, the staff are great, I trust them all....but something doesn't sit right with her, and I don't know if this test just triggered something.

Regardless, the test has been paid for (boy has it ever!) and it's been performed, and I am getting the results. So this may be a moot point entirely.



M.