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Treatment Necessary with Low Oncotype?

Posted by sdbonniea123 @sdbonniea123, Jun 26 12:13pm

Hello – I have hormone positive HER2 negative Stage 1, Grade 2 with a Ki-67 of 15%. Just got the last piece of the puzzle back and my Oncotype Score is 9. I know this is pretty low so my question is: is there a point where all this treatment becomes overkill? I am prescribed 15 rounds of radiation to start on Wednesday, and meet with the oncologist Monday to discuss the hormone blockers. It’s hard for me to reconcile doing all these other things to my body when it feels like the tumor was quite indolent and probably doesn’t have the energy to do much. It all feels a bit like a game of chance, but I am curious about people’s thoughts on this. Thanks!

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jmab | @jmab | 1 day ago
In reply to @sdbonniea123 "@jmab I agree with you that there’s so much we can do to control our own..." + (show)
Profile picture for sdbonniea123 @sdbonniea123

@jmab I agree with you that there’s so much we can do to control our own health. I can’t seem to lose any weight no matter what I do, but I walk 2 to 3 miles a day and I’m trying to watch what I eat. Also do some Pilates and yoga. As far as the recurrence rate these aren't guesses—they are highly calculated estimates based on scientific genomic testing. They are backed by years of clinical trial data, which is why doctors rely on them to tailor our treatments so precisely.

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@sdbonniea123 I hear you & I think you're missing my point. The "statistics" (5% chance of recurrance, 10% chance...etc) do not take into account each person's lifestyle choices. Oncotype scores don't even consider the size of the tumor! I believe that statistics are parts of the puzzle, sure. But there are so many variables involved (diet, exercise, body mass, etc) that influence outcomes. Statistically-speaking, given my profile (72, vegan, very active, slender, no alcohol/smoking, no family history) I was considered extremely low-risk (0-5%) but I still got stage 1 ILC. I do not base my medical decisions solely on statistics.

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marshgirl24 | @marshgirl24 | 1 day ago
In reply to @sdbonniea123 "@jmab I agree with you that there’s so much we can do to control our own..." + (show)
Profile picture for sdbonniea123 @sdbonniea123

@jmab I agree with you that there’s so much we can do to control our own health. I can’t seem to lose any weight no matter what I do, but I walk 2 to 3 miles a day and I’m trying to watch what I eat. Also do some Pilates and yoga. As far as the recurrence rate these aren't guesses—they are highly calculated estimates based on scientific genomic testing. They are backed by years of clinical trial data, which is why doctors rely on them to tailor our treatments so precisely.

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@sdbonniea123 My cancer was dealt with 18 months ago and then renal disease popped up. What a surprise. But I went on the renal no sugar, no salt diet and lost 20 pounds in 3 months. I had tried to lose ten pound for years! It wasn't easy at first. It mean cooking more than I"d like and making salads with veggies like chick peas. but I'm really happy with this and my renal numbers are good too right now. My husband and friends have all commented on how good I look. The stomach is another thing, tho. Those little paunches as we age. I might try the Pilates, which was just mentioned. I do walk, ride my bike or work out indoors (especially in this heat. Walking is out.) But Pilates, I've heard, is great for stomachs.

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marygrannie | @marygrannie | 1 day ago

The recurrence rates aren’t guesses. As far as weight loss, there is much written now about the GLP-1 drugs being good for breast cancer survivors. I lost 25 pounds just having the mastectomy and tissue expanders, determined to lose that 30 pounds that my BMI said I should stop carrying. Earlier this year I began taking the lowest dose Wegovy pill, and I am a fan. They really do curb appetite and I’ve had no other side effects with it. Have met my goal and 5 pounds more. Anything to combat the fear of recurrence. Important to keep up with exercise which can also include and in my case, has to be, chair exercises; I currently can’t do a lot of walking because of my knee pain. After the upcoming knee replacement surgery in August, I know I will be exchanging one type of pain for another for a while, but the eventual hope is for being able to ditch the cane and walk more normally in a few months. Will be nice to get back to walking for exercise, as well as having no pain during simple things like grocery shopping. Aging is one “fun” thing after another but so it goes. Being female, and 74, two strikes against me as far as breast cancer, and I want to do whatever I can to deter the recurrence fear.

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cashemire | @cashemire | 1 day ago
In reply to @sdbonniea123 "Thank you to everyone who shared their experience! I can't figure out how to update my..." + (show)
Profile picture for sdbonniea123 @sdbonniea123

Thank you to everyone who shared their experience! I can't figure out how to update my original post so am going to just Reply and hope it works!

I did go to my oncology appointment yesterday. First time meeting her, since the sequence for me went surgeon, radiologist and then oncologist.

So basically she gave me my numbers and told me what my risk of recurrence was without and without medication. (5% with, 8-10% without). She said I have one of the most favorable breast cancer profiles and that any treatment for me is about lowering an already low chance and kind of "insurance." I feel very grateful and humbled by this outcome.

She did not sugarcoat the AI thing. But she also said some people do fine on it.

I asked her what she would recommend to a loved one and she said "if it was your exact situation I would tell them to do the radiation and then try the AI and if it didn't work I would not lose sleep if they decided to stop taking it." She said it my case that she did not come into the room with the prescription pad in hand knowing that she was going to need to give me the pills, which is not the case with many others.

I have decided to take her advice and do the radiation and then try the pills. If they are too hard on me I will stop and just pray that I don't fall into the 8-10%. I guess that's all I can do now. Oh, and enjoy life! Because if this has taught me anything, it has taught me that tomorrow is not promised and I need to stop sweating the small stuff!

Sending love and prayers for healing to everyone out there that is going through this and other cancer journeys!
xo

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@sdbonniea123
I had oncotype of 10, refused the AI after radiation, but bc came back in same breast after lumpectomy and now have been on AI (arimidex) for almost 4 yrs with little or no detectable effects. Maybe could have spared myself the recurrence and inevitable mastectomy if I had taken them ...

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