Oncotype DX Results: What to Expect
Because waiting for—and understanding—your cancer test results can be stressful, Exact Sciences makes understanding your Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test results as easy as possible.
Your doctor will get your results in approximately two weeks after your tumour sample arrives at the Exact Sciences laboratory. The results provide a score between 0-100 that indicates how likely your cancer is to return and predicts how beneficial chemotherapy will be for you.1-5 You and your doctor can discuss the score (along with supporting information provided) and how it affects your treatment plan.
Understanding your score
WHAT CAN YOU LEARN FROM YOUR TEST RESULTS?
Watch this video to prepare for your Oncotype DX test results and discuss next steps with your doctor.
The score is a number between 0-100. A low score means the cancer has a lower chance of returning and you have a lower chance of benefiting from chemotherapy. A high score means the cancer has a higher chance of returning and you have a higher chance of benefiting from chemotherapy. For example, patients with a high score often choose more aggressive treatment options including chemotherapy, than patients with low scores.
It is important to understand that a low score result does not mean there is no chance that your breast cancer will return. And, a high score result does not mean that your breast cancer will definitely return. So, your treatment decisions still depend on your unique situation and personal preferences.
How likely are you to benefit from chemotherapy?
Prepare for your appointment with your doctor to review your Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score results.
Proven to predict chemotherapy benefit
The Breast Recurrence Score test can predict whether you will benefit from chemotherapy.2,4 Therefore, the Breast Recurrence Score test can help you and your physician tailor a treatment plan specifically for you.
Many women who received high Recurrence Score results were able to choose chemotherapy as a potentially life-saving treatment. The majority of women who received low Recurrence Score results were able to effectively pursue hormonal therapy alone and avoid the unnecessary side effects of chemotherapy.6-13
How your score is generated
The Breast Recurrence Score test is a genomic test—it looks at the activity of your tumour’s genes. Your score is based on the behavior of specific genes from tumour tissue removed during the surgery to remove your tumour. Looking at this unique set of cancer-related genes—how they act and how they are expressed—provides information about how likely your cancer is to return. Learn more about how the test works.
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