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A new study shows a gene test can help many women with early stage breast cancer avoid chemotherapy and still beat the disease.

Dr. Mallika Marshall reports from Boston for CBS News.

 

Ann Louise Puopolo was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer 5 years ago.

“I really wanted to make the best decision on behalf of my health,” she said.

Doctors at Dana Farber Cancer Institute suggested she have a gene activity test called the Oncotype DX to help assess the risk of whether her cancer would come back.

Now a new study shows the test accurately identifies many women with early stage cancer who can safely skip chemotherapy.

“Even though they did not get chemotherapy this large group of women did very well. The recurrence risk was less than 2 percent through five years of follow up,” said Dr. Harold Bursten from the Susan F. Smith Center for Women`s Cancers at Dana- Farber.

The study published in the New England Journal of Medicine involved more than 10,000 women with the most common type of breast cancer, early stage, hormone driven and no lymph nodes involved.

“Patients with a low score, like patients described in this report have tumors that are very sensitive to hormone therapy and in whom we don`t think chemo therapy does very much,” said Dr. Hal Burstein with the Susan F. Smith Center for Women`s Cancers at Dana- Farber.

Based on the results of her test, doctors told Ann Louise she could avoid chemotherapy. It was a huge relief .

“My doctor felt strongly that my risk for recurrence without chemo was low and so why burden myself and my body,” she said.

Ann Louise says she is feeling great.

The test typically costs about $4,000 and many insurance companies cover it.