Lindsay 

I also had the Oncotype , they do this to see if chemo is beneficial as sometimes the risk of chemo is not goood in many cases and in my case it would not have done any good it would have done more harm than good .

the optima trial is much the same as the tests I had done , it's a couple of weeks wait for results which I'm not gunna lie drove me crazy as it was another wait but for me o was happy with results and that's what gave me closure , I hope it's the same for you .

how are you feeling ? 
 

was yours her2 negative ? 

Hi Lindsay, sorry I cant offer advice but I'm in a similar position and I'm interested in any information you get in your replies. I got the info on Wednesday evening, have to decide about Optima by this morning and choose if I want chemo within the next couple of weeks. Does anyone know if there's and funding for outside Optima genome testing as NHS don't cover it? Best of luck on your journey xx 

Sarah 

have you asked about the Oncotype ,is this the same as the optima ?  I had Oncotype through my insurance but the nhs do cover it I have been told .

good luck in making your decision my score was extremely low and it definitely gave me closure my mind is where it was before my BC diagnosis .

I had radiotherapy and now take tablets and doing amazing 

good luck in making your decision my love 

love Lara 

Hi Lara,

Thanks for replying! The hospital gave me the impression that as 1 lymph node was involved I didn't qualify for nhs covered genomic testing, the cost is between £1200 and £4000 I believe, depending on the test chosen if I pay for it.  I'm going to look at ways to fund it today and double check that I'm correct with my understanding. 

Love, Sarah

Hello Lindsay.

I'm sorry you are having breast cancer treatment and I can appreciate you have some questions.

You are being asked if you want take part in a trial  that is looking to see if people with your type of breast cancer and stage (the extent of your cancer) would benefit from taking a genome profiling test to see if they need to have chemotherapy. The current recommended use of these test in the NHS is for people that don't have cancer in their lymph node. We do not know if it will be useful to have tests like this if you have cancer in your lymph node, that is why you are being offered the trial.

The trial design means that you would be allocated (by a computer programme) to one of 2 groups. Group 1 is to have the current recommended treatment of chemotherapy and hormonal treatment and compare it with people in group 2  that have the test will (depending on the result) say if they need to have chemotherapy, everyone gets hormonal treatment. 

As I said currently in the UK doctors will only offer these profiling tests if there is no cancer in the lymph nodes, you can see this in our information on our website here 

You can see our information about having chemotherapy for breast cancer here 

I see that there is some talk here about getting these tests done privately. I am afraid that I do not know if it is good idea to have the test done if you have cancer in your lymph nodes. If you want to know if you could have it privately you do need to be guided by your breast cancer specialist.

I hope this helps. Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Take care,

Caroline