Laurie requested more testing, did her own research, and then presented her recommendation to her doctor.
Transcript
And currently in Quebec if you have no nodes positive they will allow you to get the Oncotype DX* test which tests your genetic components in your tumour. Then based on your Oncotype results, you can see whether it’s beneficial or not to do the chemotherapy. But as soon as you have a node positive, you’re not automatically entitled to that, but I found a doctor who was willing to order it for me anyway. And then when I got the results back, it turns out that my Oncotype score was 18 which is right at the boundary of low risk and intermediate risk. So being an optimist, I would say it’s the top of low risk. And actually there were two lines and they intersected at exactly my score so one line was Tamoxifen + chemotherapy; the other line was just Tamoxifen and I was bang on the intersection.
So being a scientist that told me the best information that I have is that there’s no obvious benefit for chemotherapy, so I won’t do it. Which is not necessarily what the oncologists think. But they accepted this, so in fact I made a second PowerPoint presentation for the oncologist. With my graphs and the other parts from my pathology report explaining why I thought the chemotherapy was not necessary. And he didn’t completely agree, but he didn’t completely disagree either. So we didn’t do chemotherapy, and we just started Tamoxifen straightaway which in my case, since I have an ER positive tumour, it’s a very beneficial thing to do.
* Oncotype DX: Diagnostic test that analyzes how gene groups could have an effect on the cancer’s reaction to treatment.
More from: Laurie
More content
- Challenging Experiences – Laurie
- Challenging Experiences – Laurie (2)Learning terminology can be difficult for patient partners, and even some researchers, when you are not familiar with a specific area of research, says Laurie
- Endocrine (hormone) therapy – LaurieLaurie wonders why some women stop taking hormones.
- Radiation therapy – Laurie (2)After her Goldilocks mastectomy, Laurie researched her options and discussed them with the radio-oncologist.
- Radiation therapy – LaurieLaurie was determined to keep swimming and came up with a novel approach.
- Chemotherapy – LaurieLaurie requested more testing, did her own research, and then presented her recommendation to her doctor.
- Reconstruction surgery – Laurie (2)Laurie wondered if there were other options than a mastectomy.
- Reconstruction surgery – LaurieA Goldilocks mastectomy was exactly what Laurie wanted.
- Managing within the health care system – Laurie (2)To collect more information about her illness status Laurie requested an oncotype test even though she was not entitled to this test.
- Managing within the health care system – LaurieLaurie thinks that people can be better informed about their own illness.