Medical News

Filed under: Breast Cancer, Chemotherapy, Research

Women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer that have negative lymph nodes can take advantage of a test known as OncotypeDX. This test is used to estimate the risk of cancer recurrence in women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. Results presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology said that the test results changed the oncologist’s treatment decisions in about 31 percent of cases.

The test is useful in determining which patients are likely to benefit from chemotherapy in addition to hormonal therapy. It can predict the risk of a patient experiencing a recurrence up to ten years following diagnosis. The patient receives a Recurrence Score that ranges from 0 to 100, the higher the score — the greater risk of recurrence.

This a great way for oncologists to be able to give individualized treatment — instead of one size fits all. Its important to get chemotherapy if needed but physicians don’t want to over-treat and have the unnecessary risk of side effects from chemotherapy treatment if its not warranted.

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Original post by Kristina Collins

Filed under: Breast Cancer, Chemotherapy, Research

Women with hormone receptor positive breast cancer that have negative lymph nodes can take advantage of a test known as OncotypeDX. This test is used to estimate the risk of cancer recurrence in women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. Results presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology said that the test results changed the oncologist’s treatment decisions in about 31 percent of cases.

The test is useful in determining which patients are likely to benefit from chemotherapy in addition to hormonal therapy. It can predict the risk of a patient experiencing a recurrence up to ten years following diagnosis. The patient receives a Recurrence Score that ranges from 0 to 100, the higher the score — the greater risk of recurrence.

This a great way for oncologists to be able to give individualized treatment — instead of one size fits all. Its important to get chemotherapy if needed but physicians don’t want to over-treat and have the unnecessary risk of side effects from chemotherapy treatment if its not warranted.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Original post by Kristina Collins