Chemo test confusion
Friends saw on Sunrise yesterday morning a story that a dr has started a petition that has thousdands of signatures to get the government to fund this test that costs a lot that will show whether chem...
Forum Discussion
Hi,
I had the EndoPredict genomic testing done about one month ago at a cost of just under $3000. I'm surprised they are petitioning for OncoType, as EndoPredict has better 'stats' when you get down to scientific studies comparing what it predicts versus actual outcomes.
Anyhow, only a very specific type of BC is suitable for genomic testing to determine how effective chemo will be. I was the perfect candidate, my Ki67 was low but my tumour was not small (35mm at largest measurement). Hormone positive Her negative. No lymph nodes involved. I had a mastectomy, which meant I did not require radiotherapy.
If I was 60, my oncologist probably would have told me not to have chemo. As it looked unlikely I would have a recurrence in 10-20 years. However I'm 45, so 10-20 years and I'm still not that old. So they offered me the 'option' of chemo as an extra 3% boost at keeping it away (figures before genomic testing).
I could afford the test, so I did it. It showed I have a very low recurrence risk just on tamoxifen. It was, for me, quite conclusive that chemo would not be recommended. However, there was the risk as mentioned already of the test still putting me in the 'grey zone'. As it meant I did avoid chemo, the test has 'paid for itself' as I have used all my sick leave on surgery recovery. So each day off for chemo would have cost me hundreds of dollars in lost pay.
The test is definitely not suitable or needed by everyone. Without it, many already have a very clear picture if chemo is necessary or not based on other factors and the oncologist will be able to support your mum with all of that information. That will include whether or not she is a candidate for genomic testing.
I had the EndoPredict genomic testing done about one month ago at a cost of just under $3000. I'm surprised they are petitioning for OncoType, as EndoPredict has better 'stats' when you get down to scientific studies comparing what it predicts versus actual outcomes.
Anyhow, only a very specific type of BC is suitable for genomic testing to determine how effective chemo will be. I was the perfect candidate, my Ki67 was low but my tumour was not small (35mm at largest measurement). Hormone positive Her negative. No lymph nodes involved. I had a mastectomy, which meant I did not require radiotherapy.
If I was 60, my oncologist probably would have told me not to have chemo. As it looked unlikely I would have a recurrence in 10-20 years. However I'm 45, so 10-20 years and I'm still not that old. So they offered me the 'option' of chemo as an extra 3% boost at keeping it away (figures before genomic testing).
I could afford the test, so I did it. It showed I have a very low recurrence risk just on tamoxifen. It was, for me, quite conclusive that chemo would not be recommended. However, there was the risk as mentioned already of the test still putting me in the 'grey zone'. As it meant I did avoid chemo, the test has 'paid for itself' as I have used all my sick leave on surgery recovery. So each day off for chemo would have cost me hundreds of dollars in lost pay.
The test is definitely not suitable or needed by everyone. Without it, many already have a very clear picture if chemo is necessary or not based on other factors and the oncologist will be able to support your mum with all of that information. That will include whether or not she is a candidate for genomic testing.