Breast Cancer Index: What's your experience?

There was benefit, but it was very small, only cutting the risk by a fraction of a percentage point. I had developed multiple autoimmune issues on Anastrozole and was miserable. So my oncologist didn’t think it made sense to chase that last fraction of a percentage point and neither did I. My issues have all resolved since I’ve been off the Anastrozole so for me it was the right decision.

@virginiae What I asking is how you knew the actual amount of benefit. When I took the BCI, it was just benefit or no benefit. Yes or no. Have they changed the way they report results?

If so I want to redo mine! Hope you can answer: this is important!

I don’t know if they’ve changed the way they report, but my oncologist explained to me the relative benefit and put it in terms of a percentage, which was very small. If there’s benefit, it still has to be weighed with quality of life impact. If I was tolerating the medicine well, I would have been inclined to keep going at least a couple more years. But I was not tolerating it and things were getting worse. I’d talk to your oncologist if you have concerns but if your test said no benefit, whyyy would you want another?

It now seems clear that your oncologist was probably not referring to Breast Cancer Index results, which are an absolute yes or no.

My oncologist also cited "small benefit," but not based on the BCI.

BCI's don't give that information. I found the test frustrating for that reason and would ask the company about retesting if they are now quantifying benefit or no benefit. 40% benefit is different from 5% benefit, for instance.

I don't need to talk to my oncologist. I am all set. Your post just confused me and now I understand that your MD was not referring to the results of the BCI.

Maybe you could dig out your results. It should say benefit or no benefit, not small or large benefit 🙂

Test said there was benefit. Oncologist said it was small based on my already having a low risk of recurrence.

Exactly. The BCI did not say small benefit. Your doctor did. The BCI does not give the amount of benefit, only whether there is any.

My doc said the same (based on low Oncotype) but if the BCI had indicated benefit, I would have continued my meds for 2-5 years. I have read that 7 years may be as good as 10.

I talked with the BCI company about discrepancy between Oncotype and BCI. They said they measure different things. One measures the number of cars, as an analogy, and the other measure the speed of the cars.

Not sure many MD's know that much about the BCI . At least based on what my docs told me. One of them starting using it after I requested it: she did not know about it. I believe it has made its way into the NCCN guidelines finally.

Is the BCI used along with the Oncotype DX test or is it done after 5 years on AI’s? I just had a lumpectomy for DCIS ER/PR+. I’m having an Oncotype DX DCIS test done since radiation is being recommended by my Radiology Oncologist. There was no cancer present in my pathology on the lumpectomy (all removed with the biopsy) so I’m questioning the need for radiation. Especially since if a reoccurrence happens you can usually only have radiation to each breast 1x so my only option then would be a mastectomy. Since I now have a higher chance of future BC I’m trying to keep my future options open for another lumpectomy if a reoccurrence. I am going to try the AI’s so I’m curious if the BCI test should be done now or later or is it even beneficial for my diagnoses? Does insurance pay for this if you’ve already had an Oncotype test done?

BCI is done after 5 yrs of AIs. It tells if it is beneficial to take AIs longer.

Oncotype tells if chemo would be beneficial.

My BCI was done at 4 years because I was moving out of state from my original oncologist. I was on AI for five years after double mastectomy and 8 rounds of chemo for invasive lobular carcinoma.
My BCI came back that I was high risk for reoccurrence. But after five years on Femara I stopped. My hair started falling out again, I ached every day and hated the drug. My oncologist said ok. Now 9 years later my cancer returned to a lymph node near my liver. They removed it but I am now metastatic. I wish I had stayed on the damn drug.