Pathology Results

We've had to be at the hospital more than usual lately. Tons of post op appts, but I will continue to happily do whatever Md Anderson wants me to do.  One of the appointments was to receive surgical pathology results. Going into the appointment, I was convinced that the results would be good but the only results I wanted to hear were "pathological complete response". Out of all of the good news scenarios (and there are lots), this was the best scenario of all. This meant that chemotherapy and the HER2 drugs had worked 100% and that there were ZERO cancer cells left. I had read several clinical studies regarding statistics and patients that received "pathological complete response". Basically...

Patients who attain pathological complete response defined as ypT0 ypN0 (<---my results) or ypT0/is ypN0 have improved survival. The prognostic value is greatest in aggressive tumour subtypes. 
The aggressive tumor subtypes are triple negative and HER2 positive (<--my diagnosis 🙋). Link to one of the studies, if you are nerdy like me! 🤓 

For obvious reasons, that's all I wanted to hear...However, I also knew that it would be unlikely considering I could still feel the tumor until the day of surgery. The ultrasound the day before the surgery also showed that the mass was still roughly around 2 centimeters. Our anxiety level the morning of the appointment was at an 8. To add to the anticipation, my doctor was an hour late. She walked in with a smile, hugged me and said "well, I've got your pathology results and they are great. There were no microscopic cancer cells found in your tissue or lymph nodes. This is what you call "pathological complete response". The amount of relief I felt in that moment was immense. Eight months worth of relief. So much water squirted out of my eyes, that I must have looked like a sprinkler system. According to Joe, his eyeballs were just sweating.  😂 Turns out, the mass I was feeling and what the ultrasound was seeing, was just scar tissue...

This journey is not over but we are BEYOND happy and thankful. I meet with my Medical Oncologist on Monday to determine what happens next in terms of treatment. I do know that I'll have to continue my HER2 drugs (administered via my port every 3 weeks at the hospital) until March 2019. But at this point, I'll be happy even if he says I have to do more chemo and/or radiation for safe measure. I am already bald, so bring it Dr. Ibrahim! 😉