Eligibility and testing

The Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test is a diagnostic test performed on the tumour tissue removed from your breast during your surgery or biopsy.

You may be a candidate for the Breast Recurrence Score test if:

• You have been recently diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.
• Your cancer is anatomic stage I, II, or IIIa.
• Your breast cancer is estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) and HER2-negative (HER2-).

NOTE: If you have been diagnosed with non-invasive breast cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ (confined to milk ducts, also known as DCIS) you may be eligible for the Oncotype DX Breast DCIS Score test.

Like other laboratory tests, the Breast Recurrence Score test must be ordered by a licensed healthcare provider (like your doctor). However, the decision whether you should have the Breast Recurrence Score test is one that you and your doctor make together.

You may want to ask your doctor the following questions:

• What anatomic stage is my breast cancer and what are the chances of my cancer coming back after surgery?
• Is my breast cancer hormone receptor-positive (ER+ or PR+)?
• What are my treatment options? What do you suggest for me and why?
• What are the benefits of each treatment option? What are the drawbacks/side effects of each one?
• How long do side effects of each treatment option last? Do they go away once treatment is complete?
• Is it OK to wait a few weeks to consider my treatment plan options before I have to make a decision about treatment?
• Am I a candidate for the Breast Recurrence Score test?
• If I am a candidate for the Breast Recurrence Score test, how could we use the test results to develop my treatment plan?
• How can I get a copy of my pathology report and my Breast Recurrence Score results (if I’m eligible for the test)?

 

To print the questions easily, download the Doctor Discussion Guide for Early Stage Invasive Breast Cancer.

The Oncotype DX test has been available in Canada since the end of 2007, and to date, over 50,000 Canadian women have benefited from testing. In all Canadian provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, PEI, New Brunswick and Newfoundland), the test is publicly funded for patients with early stage node negative breast cancer. The test is also publicly funded for patients with node positive breast cancer (1-3 nodes) in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI and Newfoundland. Individual patients also have the option of paying for the test themselves if there is no coverage in their province, or if they do not meet pre-specified provincial eligibility criteria.