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Treatment Necessary with Low Oncotype?
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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@sdbonniea123 I also refused the AIs. I am long past menopause at 69. In my case the "cure" can be worse than the disease. People do die from some of these side effects, instead of the cancer- stokes and heart attacks for instance. I had a low onco score, I was negative on a Signatera test, and yet they really push the AIs that made my hands freeze into a fist, hair falling out and horrible joint pain. So that is the reason women past menopause might not want to be on AIs.
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
@sdbonniea123 just remember, there are many, many women who take the blockers, have no significant problems, are doing fine & are out living their best lives. I would urge you to at least try them & see for yourself.