I was diagnosed with stage 2 in December and decided to have to Oncotype test to determine whether chemo would be of benefit. I'm 44, have 2 young girls and I just didn't want chemo unless there was going to be a benefit. We used my car money so am stuck with my old banger for a while but my score came back in at 20 so the benefit of chemo over tamoxifen alone is < 1%. I am so relieved and overwhelmed - but in a good way! I also feel really shitty this test costs 5k and there are lots of women having to go through chemo when 5k might tell them they don't need it. I'm thinking of writing to my local MP John Alexander for what it's worth but for now while I wait for radiotherapy and tamoxifen I'm taking this great news and feeling very happy :)

Good on you for making the test work even though it compromises your savings for a car. By all means write to your MP as they need to know what goes onGreat result Take care

I know I’m a bit late to this discussion but I absolutely agree on the importance of getting better access to this test. I paid for my own ($5K) and feel for those women who cannot afford this (also on top of many other out-of-pocket) costs. But just as an example, of “cost-benefit”, after my 1st TC chemo round when I ended up in hospital for 5 days with febrile neutropenia, I was prescribed Neulasta injections for subsequent rounds. These are covered under the PBS, so I paid $45 dollars per shot, but the actual cost that the govt pays is $15K per injection. So that is $45K that the govt PBS paid to support my treatment. Now I know not everyone gets Neulasta, but imagine if I didn’t really “need” chemo (my score was 38 - so I did!!), couldn’t afford the cost of the Oncotype test and went ahead with chemo anyway. A potential huge waste of govt (taxpayers) money. Not to mention all the other direct and “indirect” costs.

Hi @Milly21 BCNA acknowledges the significant cost of tests such as oncotype dx testing. It has been a key issue on our advocacy agenda for many years and BCNA will continue efforts to make this test (or a similar test such as mammaprint) available and affordable for women. Please see the most recent item on our website discussing this issue in the link below:https://www.bcna.org.au/news/2018/06/new-research-findings-confirm-the-benefit-of-the-oncotype-dx-tumour-profiling-test/

‘Doctor’ is a term by convention. Unless a person has a Doctorateof Philosophy , PhD, Academically, they are not “Doctors’. I have deep respect for our practitioners and their knowledge butat times I’ve had the thought that their title should be.. Mr/Ms etcPractitioner of Medicine/ Surgery. Only if they have advanced academic PhDs should they use the title Doctor. The absence of using the conventional term ‘Doctor ‘ and revertingTo ‘Mr’ was to distinguish rank based on extra knowledge ( a Fellowship) and specialty.Medical culture is terribley hierarchical. Good in some ways, Bad in others. You may notice in hospitals thatyoung doctors can be identified by the stethoscope they choose to wear around their necks.. Our specialist doctors when visitingdon’t carry a stethoscope at all! Prior to the stethoscope being invented, the thermometer was a doctors sign of power and authority! While deeply respecting my practitioner’s education and experience im also aware of the human failings in their systems .We choose to attend a practitioner to be treated at their level of knowledge. I don’t know a way to interview a doctor to ensure they meet personal expectations!

I too had the oncotype test about 2 years ago when I was 40.i too avoided chemo and was relieved,it was expensive and I am hoping it will be funded by Medicare soon,as it would fully inform people before they make a choice.

Oncotype | Online Network

iserbrown
Member
7 years ago
Good on you for making the test work even though it compromises your savings for a car. By all means write to your MP as they need to know what goes on
Great result
Take care
Milly21
Member
7 years ago
I too had the oncotype test about 2 years ago when I was 40.i too avoided chemo and was relieved,it was expensive and I am hoping it will be funded by Medicare soon,as it would fully inform people before they make a choice.
Milly21
Member
7 years ago
Type your commenti did read somewhere I thought they were in process of trying to get it approved
Riki_BCNA
Member
7 years ago
Hi @Milly21 BCNA acknowledges the significant cost of tests such as oncotype dx testing. It has been a key issue on our advocacy agenda for many years and BCNA will continue efforts to make this test (or a similar test such as mammaprint) available and affordable for women. Please see the most recent item on our website discussing this issue in the link below:
https://www.bcna.org.au/news/2018/06/new-research-findings-confirm-the-benefit-of-the-oncotype-dx-tumour-profiling-test/
kmakm
Member
7 years ago
I paid $2980 and ended up having chemo.
Sooz
Member
7 years ago
@kmakm sorry to hear you had chemo. I was really expecting it to come back that way for me. It now costs 5 grand.
kmakm
Member
7 years ago
@Sooz There are different ones at varying prices.
Sooz
Member
7 years ago
@Riki_BCNA my surgeon and oncologist said there was going to be another submission this year. Do you know the timing? Thanks.
Riki_BCNA
Member
7 years ago
Hello @Sooz yes there is another submission this year for oncotype dx and will hopefully know the outcome after July.
Sooz
Member
7 years ago
Thanks @Riki_BCNA I will get something together to send to John Alexander MP