Oncotype DX test

Posted on 14 February 2014

Did you know that there is now a revolutionary test available that can help determine whether or not you will need chemotherapy?

Will the Oncotype DX test hurt?
No, it is a painless procedure. A small sample of the cancerous tissue is taken during a biopsy or your initial breast surgery; it’s then sent away to a specialised laboratory in the USA for analysis. No further invasive procedure is required.

Using a system called the Recurrence Score, which ‘rates’ the risk of cancer recurrence on a scale between 0 and 100, your oncologist will recommend either that you undergo chemotherapy or, more likely, that you have hormone therapy only and sidestep the chemo!

I’ve heard that it’s an expensive test. Will my medical aid cover the cost?
Medical aid funds are currently reluctant to cover the costs, mainly because the test is a relatively new one. Consult your own fund for information. It is an expensive test, because the carefully handled and scientifically packaged specimens have to be sent to the US for analysis, but compared with the cost, inconvenience and other side effects of chemotherapy, it is still thought to be worth it.

Who decides whether I should have an Oncotype DX test?
Your oncologist will, in discussion with you, assess whether you’re an appropriate candidate for the test. It’s not designed for all cancer patients, but it patients who have early-stage breast cancer and meet certain criteria can be eligible.

What about hormone therapy?
Will I still need that, even if I don’t have chemotherapy? ?Your doctor or oncologist will discuss the treatment options with you; if chemo isn’t indicated, you will probably have some form of hormone treatment, such as Tamoxifen.

Read how taking the Oncotype DX meant that Jane Eager didn’t need chemotherapy.

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The information provided in this article was correct at the time of publishing. At Mediclinic we endeavour to provide our patients and readers with accurate and reliable information, which is why we continually review and update our content. However, due to the dynamic nature of clinical information and medicine, some information may from time to time become outdated prior to revision.