Hi Sarah,

Your Oncotype results sound ok. They don't usually offer chemo if your score is under 20. It is also good news that all lymph nodes checked were clear. The reason that they advice people not to have chemo is, that with this score, the after effects of chemo can be more detrimental than the benefits. Even if you had chemo, there is still no guarantee that it won't return - this unfortunately, is one of the things that we all have to learn to live with.

Your care team are experts in their field and don't advise without good reason. Whatever decision you come to, I hope that it is the right one for you.

Do let us know what you eventually plump for. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you so much for your reply Jolamine xx

I usually have no problem trusting the information I'm given. I cannot fault the treatment and care I've had to date. 
 

Being diagnosed with bc has floored me. I'm sure you know that feeling xx

Up until this point I haven't really considered that it might come back! The prevention bit has now become a huge reality!
 

I know that if my score had been below 15 I would've absolutely been able to accept the no chemo decision. It's because I fall into the 'intermediate' group of 16-25 that it's affecting me so strongly. I'm under 50 (just) and everything I read says that women under 50 with a score of 16-25 may benefit from chemo still. Statistics are a nightmare at times eh! 

Had chemo not been an option and I'd been told we're treating you now with radiation and hormone tablets I wouldn't have been in this dilemma - no choice. However, I've been given a choice and I've done some research.

I have contacted a private oncologist. Not something I would normally do. As I said, I cannot fault the treatment and care I've been given. This is definitely an anxiety thing. I clearly don't want to have chemo if I don't need it. But I just need to try and be as sure as I can that I'm making the right decision. 
 

Sarah xx 

Hi Sarah,

Remember that the advice you've been given comes from a multi-disciplinary meeting (MDT). This is normal practice when your care team discuss your case, so this is a decision of a number of people. from slightly different backgrounds, who decide upon what they believe to be the optimum treatment for you.

You have done the right thing by contacting someone for a second opinion. None of us want chemo unless we need it.

I do hope that this helps you to reach the right decision and that you will be happy with whatever you decide upon.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi TwinTwo,

I found your post here informative and would really like to find the study you mentioned. I've looked online without much success and wondered if, even though this was 2018 that you posted this, you knew more about the study to help me locate it?

I have just had a mastectomy, ER+, HER2 neg, stage I with one lymph node with micromet. The oncotype test is not available where I live and one oncologist has recommended chemo and another has recommended aromatose inhibitors only. No radiotherapy.

Fingers crossed you can help.

I realise your posts were in 2018 and its now 2021 so this may not be read. I had a lumpectomy just over 6 weeks ago and its been suggested by oncologist to do chemo, as although caught early and with nodes and margins clear, the cancer type was triple negative, therefore only treatable thro chemo and radiotherapy, also grade 3 . Im a fit 64 year-old and find the idea of chemo scary. My predict score gives about 4% improved chance of survival over 10 years thro chemo (over and above the 69% without it.)

Its hard to weigh up the pros and cons as chemo is such an unpredictable scenario, and one i would probably avoid, but...... any input gratefully received!   Thanks.

Hi Indecision,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

I am sorry to hear that your breast cancer is triple negative, although I am glad to hear that you have already had surgery and hope that you are recovering well. Triple negative can be treated by surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and sometimes biphosphates. There are different types of chemotherapy. The side-effects can vary with the different types.

It would be worth discussing this with your consultant and/or breast care nurse. You need to know what type of chemo is envisaged in your case and whether or not the use of biphosphates would be of any use for you.

At the end of the day, the decision has to be yours and yours alone, as you are the one who has to live with the outcome. Try to get as many facts together to help you with your decision. It is often a good idea to write down a list of any questions you have before you speak to your care team, as it is all too easy to forget something important in the heat of the moment.

Once you have all of the facts to hand, you can decide whether the extra advantage chemo will give you is worth the possibility of developing any side-effects - some people have none.

Whatever decision you reach, I hope that it is the right one for you.

Please keep in touch and let us know what you decide upon. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx