New Breast Cancer Test approved by FDA/Questions

[Vicki]

Hi,

I just saw on NBC's "Today" show, a segment with Dr. Nancy Snyderman, "Today's" chief medical correspondent, that there's a new breast cancer test that came out of Europe and will be released by the FDA here in the United States in the next few months. It is designed to test and score 70 different genes as a "road map for treatment." (I recall a Dana Farber individual was interviewed in the segment.)

This is different from the Oncotype DX test, now currently available to ER+ women.

Here are my questions for those of you who know more:

1. Will ER- and Her2+++ women benefit from this test?
2. Can women who have been out of treatment for several years now ask for this test post-treatment (or is it only for newly-diagnosed women)?
3. Does anyone know how the test is conducted (by blood test, tumor sample, etc.).

Thanks, everyone.

Vicki Z