Surgery

On Friday I had an Oncoplasty.  This is a lumpectomy and breast reduction done at the same time.  The lumpectomy removes whats left (if anything) of the tumor and any clips or scar tissue left behind.  By combining this with a reduction they reduced my chances of getting breast cancer again and made me symmetrical.  Also, they removed my sentinel lymph nodes.  These are the first few lymph nodes that the tumor drains into.  In my case, they removed 5.

Everything has been tested and the results are in.  NO LIVE CANCER CELLS!!!!

What I've been hoping for since diagnosis was a Pathological Complete Response (PCR).  This is a PCR!  It seemed like a long shot in the beginning stages of treatment.   But, here we are!

What does this mean?
-This is the best possible outcome for someone with triple negative breast cancer
-90% cumulative survival rate over 10 years
-very unlikely this cancer will reoccur

This is amazing news because of the prognosis but also remembering where I started!  My tumor is the largest I have read about in any journal.  The fact that it never went into my lymph nodes is amazing and that I was able to achieve a PCR is even more amazing!

I will still need radiation as the final stage of my treatment.  But, NO MORE CHEMOTHERAPY!  It would be an understatement to say we are excited!  We couldn't be happier!

Thank you for all the gifts, cards, dinners, visitors... Wow!  I'm constantly in awe of the love we have received!  Thank you all for being a part of this journey!  I can't say the journey is over but I think I can say I am cancer free!  That is pretty amazing!