Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole

@karendb - Karen, you are not dumb! There is so much technical information that happens plus the emotional side of your diagnosis. It's truly awesome we have this group to help us understand and to give support.

Thank you Elizm. I've just completed chemo and radiation a month ago so was a bit confused.

@karendb
You're not at all dumb. Some of us panicked when told that part of the treatment plan was chemo... and these tests potentially can tell you that you're a good candidate (because of high rate of recurrence) or not to have the chemo. They basically test a sample of your tumor (following lumpectomy or mastectomy) for various genes.

Hi. I don't want to appear dumb but what is an oncotype test and how do you know if you had one? I was er+ as well.

No I was ER+ and had the oncotype test. I was a 22. So based on that, (middle range result) then chemo does not improve the survival rate.

@francine6829
As noted earlier, I believe that the OncotypeDX is only viable for those who are ER- (and I'm ER+).

Elizm, did you also have the oncocyte test?

@gwinter
A year-and-a-half ago, I might have remembered the differences, but I think it has to do with whether you're ER+ or ER-. I also noted that, on the Mammaprint report, it was noting some stats for those who are HER2-, and I'm HER2+....

Gwinter. Google does a better job than me explaining the difference

@francine6829 @kathyomaha55
It's was the MammaPrint 70-Gene Risk of Recurrence which essentially told me that I was at high risk for recurrence within 10 years without chemo and hormonal therapy. As I recall, it's the report for those who are ER+. There's a secondary report which financially is separate -- BluePrint 80-Gene Molecular Subtype -- which my oncologist did not request.