A quick lesson on oncotype testing: This is a test that determines the benefit of using chemotherapy for estrogen receptor positive (ER-positive) breast cancers. That is the type of cancer I have. The thing is that insurance covers the cost of having ONE tumor tested. Most people do not have several tumors. Mine have not been tested yet. And we believe that the oncologist is covering her @ss by recommending chemo at this point.
So, we asked that all of my tumors get tested. Wellllllll, since insurance covers ONE tumor.......all of the others would cost us $5000 EACH to get tested. We decided to go ahead and get the largest tumor tested. (The doctor is going to try to submit all under our insurance, but I'm not holding my breath). If that tumor comes back and says chemo would help - okay, we have actual evidence for chemo. Then we can look at the statistics and make a decision. If that tumor comes back and says chemo wouldn't help - we may have to pay out of pocket to have the others tested.
The kicker is that the test takes 2 weeks to get results. Chemo needs to start in less than 5 weeks. One tumor is getting tested right now. If the others need to be tested, we are going to be finding out results right as chemo is supposed to happen. Tight timeline. Especially since I would need to get the port placed in my chest and have an echo-cardiogram prior to chemo. The chemo drug in my "cocktail" can do heart damage.
Back to waiting - results on first tumor are due February 22nd.
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