Chemo or Not Oncotype Intermediate score of 25

[pawtraits]

Recently diag. with invasive lobular, 1.5 cm, margins, moderately well differentiated, highly estrogen receptor (and progest) positive. Node neg. Had the Oncotype DX score high intermediate 25.  Oncologist reco. chemo (I would choose CMF) and surgeon who is no small fry said NO chemo but Radiation and Arimedix. What if I dont tolerate Arimed or what if the Tailorrx shows when results are in  I should have had it? Chemo or not?

[katarina777]

THE NUMBER 25 REALLY TELLS YOU NOTHING, EITHER BAD OR GOOD. THE NUMBER ITSELF IS WITHIN NORMAL RANGE, BUT EVEN IF THIS WAS DIFFERENT, YOU BE TESTED WITH A SERIES OF INTERVALS INBETWEEN, LIKE NO MORE THAN 3 WEEKS APART. EHAT IS HELPFUL OVER TIME IS HOE YOUR ONGOING TESTS COMPARE TO EARLIER TESTS YOU HAD, WND NOT HOW YOU COMPARE TO OTHER PEOPLE.

WHAT I AM TRYING TO SAY IS THAT AT THIS POINT YOU CAN GET MORE INFORMATION FROM SCANS, AND THE PERIODIC TUMOR MARKER TESTS ONLY PAY OFF OVER TIME. LIKE IN MY CASE, MY VALUES WERE LIKE YOURS, MAYBE A LITTLE LOWER, BUT THEN OVER TIME WENT UP TP OVER 2000. THIS WAY WE COULF WATCH NOT ONLY THE PROGRESSION BUT ALSO IF THE CHEMO WAS WORKING AND HOW WELL AND FOR HOW LONG.

YOUR OWN BODY AND THE WAY YOU FEEL ALSO PROVIDES MUCH INFORMATION.

KATRIN

[japdip]

This is a study to determine IF women with a score 11 to 25 would benefit from Chemo or if Hormone therapy was enough when no positive nodes were found. Many do not choose Chemo under these circumstances and on the other hand many jump at the chance to participate in a study. In a case such as yours it's going to be your decision .... you could of course see another Oncologist for a second opinion; keep in mind that post-op treatment is the Oncologist's specialty and not the Surgeon's, meaning no disrespect to your Surgeon of course. Arimidex does have it's side effects but there are other drugs that can be used in ER/PR + cancers. Try not to dwell on the "what ifs"; there are too many of those !!  I personally would go for a second opinion.     Take care .....