Oncotype score 16... anyone had chemo?

Hi there, 

I am a 37 year old with Eostrogen and progesterone positive grade 3 breast cancer. HER2 negative. Node negative. I had 2 lumpectomies since my diagnosis in May (small 13 mm tumour and rogue cells that were surrounding it) and my oncotype score has just come back as 16.

0-15 I was told there would be less than a 1% benefit to chemo, so I am just over a 1% benefit. I felt I had made my decision of no chemo last week. My oncologist kind of steered me this way but on the whole was pretty non committal which is understandable. She highlighted the fact I would be having the 6 rounds of chemo over winter and the risk of covid and all the other risks that come with chemo. I have 2 children in primary school so if I went for chemo it would mean them not returning to school for many more months due to us needing to shield. My husband also has CFS so if I struggle with the chemo then we would really struggle as a family. I feel in a way it's a no brainer with a score as low as 16 and my gut is telling me don't. But then with me being young, it being grade3, am I being silly? Could I be that 1 in 100 woman who gets benefit from chemo... it's a niggling feeling but on the whole my gut is still saying don't do it due to the risks. I am booked in for my radiotherapy initial consult on Thurs so I need to make a final decicion before then. 

I wondered if anyone had had a similar oncotype score and experienced having to make this decision? 

Thanks so much 

Parents
  • Follow your gut instinct. I had an Oncotype DX score of 37 - yet I refused chemo after watching friends go through it. Only you can decide the best outcome for your own health.

  • Can I please ask what treatment you did have, my score is 37 but not sure about treatment and I'm really worried ,

  • I didn't have an Oncotype but was told  from Predict model that chemo gave me 6 per cent better chance over 10 years ...so I took it on basis I would regret it if I didn't, and cancer  then metastasised . It wasn't fun but I wasn't sick once didn't even lose all my hair as used cold cap. I worked on basis if oncologist advised it I would do it but was adjuvant and cou,d have said no . Just got my second year clear mammogram and will never regret having chemo . The worst thing was the cannula I had 12 sessions... but I would go for it . If it really isn't necessary it wouldn't be offered good luck 

    Susan 

Reply
  • I didn't have an Oncotype but was told  from Predict model that chemo gave me 6 per cent better chance over 10 years ...so I took it on basis I would regret it if I didn't, and cancer  then metastasised . It wasn't fun but I wasn't sick once didn't even lose all my hair as used cold cap. I worked on basis if oncologist advised it I would do it but was adjuvant and cou,d have said no . Just got my second year clear mammogram and will never regret having chemo . The worst thing was the cannula I had 12 sessions... but I would go for it . If it really isn't necessary it wouldn't be offered good luck 

    Susan 

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