A big welcome to Cancer Chat Am9nd9,

It is indeed a very difficult dilemma and I hope you can get the best advice to help you make an informed decision. We have information on the Optima trial here. I am sure there have been many ladies who have been confronted with exactly the same dilemma and I hope they will come and tell you more about the choice they had to make.

Just a couple of months ago [@Lillyfern]‍ posted this thread and you will notice that she also faced exactly the same dilemma - don't hesitate to reply to her post and I hope she will also respond here and share her experience with you.

Our friendly nurses are also available on this free number 0808 800 4040  and their line is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm so don't hesitate to give them a ring if you want to talk through your different options with them.

Decisions, decisions... let us know what you decide when you have a chance to have a good think about it!

Best wishes,

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

I also have primary breast cancer with spread to 2 nodes. My oncologist said although my type of cancer will probably come up as low recurrence score on oncotype testing (a similar test to this trial), he strongly recommended that I do chemo. If my nodes were negative he said it would be a different story, but he said the evidence for genomic testing in node positive patients isn’t quite there yet so it’s a gamble. (Of course this is what these kind of trials may help with, for those who are willing to partake).

When he showed me my survival data with chemo on Predict and explained this, I felt chemo was the right choice, even though I hoped I could avoid it. With 2 young children to think about I didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks. I took his advice and am currently undergoing chemo. While I don’t think anyone relishes the thought of chemo it hasn’t been anywhere near as bad as I imagined so far. 

Wishing you all the best for your treatment, whatever you decide XX

To add, looking at the optima trial I would be eligible but it wasn’t even mentioned to me.

I also have this dilemma which way to go was at hospital today  4th June I have a week to make decision does anyone know the success rate of optima ? 

Can you please tell me it you did the Optima trial and if so what the outcome was.

I never went for the Optima trial I have been having chemo since June 2019. Had CT last week and the tumour is responding to treatment was 3cm now 2 cm. To me there was not enough evidence to go onto the Optima trial. I am happy to have chosen the chemo first route especially as it is working . 

Hi am just at crossroads to make my mind up on optima trail or chemo can u tell me how it has been on chemo I don't no what to do need some advice from other people going through it 

Hi my partner is just at same gateway of not noting which path to go on which way did u go and can you give any advice for her to help her make mind up many thanks hope ur doing ok

I'm currently in the same boat.  I feel worse for having the choice, i was all geared up to have chemo and now I'm in limbo again. Of course, it's not a case of choose chemo or choose not to jave chemo, it's choose chemo or choose to have the chance to not be put forward for chemo.  I still feel like the decision is the same, because part of me thinks that if I were in the group where they tested my tumour and said no chemo,  i might then want to withdraw and have it anyway - but I'd then potentially be left with the knowledge that the test showed the chemo would do more harm than good and I don't want to regret putting myself through that.

Hello I have recently had mastectomy with reconstruction I have cancer cells in lympth nodes I've been offered the optima trail really Dunno what to do x