What is the Oncotype DX Test and Do I Need it?
Breast Cancer
What is the Oncotype DX Test and Do I Need it?
The Oncotype DX test is a genetic test that profiles the tumors of women who have early-stage hormone receptor-positive, HER2 negative breast cancer. The test can help predict the risk of your breast cancer returning. After surgery, a piece of the tumor is sent off to be tested. The result is a number otherwise known as the “Oncotype DX score.”
The score determines if a woman is at low, intermediate, or high risk of recurrence and based on that result, whether a woman may benefit from the addition of chemotherapy before receiving hormonal therapy. In general, women who have a low score do not need chemotherapy. Women who have a high score may decrease the risk of the cancer coming back with the addition of chemotherapy.
For women with an intermediate score, one of the largest breast cancer studies ever done recently reported that women over the age of 50 with a score less than 25 did not benefit from chemotherapy. In general, those women have an excellent prognosis with hormone therapy alone. For women younger than 50, and scores greater than 15, they may still benefit from chemotherapy prior to hormonal therapy.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
The Oncotype DX test is a genetic test that profiles the tumors of women who have early-stage hormone receptor-positive, HER2 negative breast cancer. The test can help predict the risk of your breast cancer returning. After surgery, a piece of the tumor is sent off to be tested. The result is a number otherwise known as the “Oncotype DX score.”
The score determines if a woman is at low, intermediate, or high risk of recurrence and based on that result, whether a woman may benefit from the addition of chemotherapy before receiving hormonal therapy. In general, women who have a low score do not need chemotherapy. Women who have a high score may decrease the risk of the cancer coming back with the addition of chemotherapy.
For women with an intermediate score, one of the largest breast cancer studies ever done recently reported that women over the age of 50 with a score less than 25 did not benefit from chemotherapy. In general, those women have an excellent prognosis with hormone therapy alone. For women younger than 50, and scores greater than 15, they may still benefit from chemotherapy prior to hormonal therapy.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Treatment: Choosing Your Treatment
Treatment: Early Stages
Treatment: Hormone Treatments
A mastectomy involves removing the breast – a treatment route many patients with breast cancer feel they will have no choice but to undergo. But it’s not the only surgical option.
Treatment: Surgery
A mastectomy involves removing the breast – a treatment route many patients with breast cancer feel they will have no choice but to undergo. But it’s not the only surgical option.
Treatment: Explaining the Options
For patients who do have to have their breasts or a piece of their breasts removed, there are a number of surgical reconstruction options available.
Treatment: Reconstruction
For patients who do have to have their breasts or a piece of their breasts removed, there are a number of surgical reconstruction options available.
Lymphedema is a chronic swelling that can occur after breast cancer surgery and radiation.
Treatment: Lymphedema
Lymphedema is a chronic swelling that can occur after breast cancer surgery and radiation.