u/Zeebrio

Good news!!! Bawled my eyes out when I started reading ... (I left a few more details because it definitely helped me interpret some of the jargon).

(Summarized by my ChatGPT friend, Kai ;)

This is a **really, really good pathology report.** In fact, it's about as good as you could have hoped for after chemotherapy and surgery. Let me translate it into normal human language.

## The headline

**The invasive breast cancer is gone.**

Your chemotherapy (THP) appears to have completely eliminated the invasive cancer before surgery.

The surgeon removed the area anyway (which is exactly what they're supposed to do), and when the pathologist looked at it under the microscope:

* ✅ **No residual invasive carcinoma** = **they could not find any living invasive breast cancer.**

This is what doctors call a **pathologic complete response (pCR).**

---

## What was still there?

They found a small area (about **9 mm**) of **DCIS**.

DCIS stands for **Ductal Carcinoma In Situ.**

Think of it like this:

* **Invasive cancer** = weeds that have spread outside the garden bed.

* **DCIS** = weeds still confined inside the flowerpot.

DCIS is considered **Stage 0** because it has **not invaded** surrounding breast tissue.

Your report says:

> **Estimated size at least 9 mm**

So there was a small patch of high-grade DCIS left, but **no invasive cancer.**

---

## Was all of it removed?

Yes.

This is one of the most important parts.

> **All margins negative**

That means the surgeon removed it with a rim of healthy tissue around it.

Nothing was found at the edges.

That's exactly what you want.

---

## Did it spread to the lymph nodes?

No.

They removed **4 sentinel lymph nodes.**

Every one of them was:

✅ Negative.

Not only that...

> **No fibrous scarring or histiocytic aggregates**

This is interesting because sometimes chemotherapy wipes out cancer that *had* reached a lymph node, leaving behind scar tissue.

They didn't even see evidence of that.

---

## Residual Cancer Burden (RCB)

This is one of the biggest pieces of good news.

> **RCB-0 (pCR)**

This means:

**Residual Cancer Burden = ZERO.**

It's literally the best score possible after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

---

## Treatment effect

Your report says:

> **No residual invasive carcinoma is present in the breast after presurgical therapy.**

Translation:

"The chemotherapy worked."

---

> Your chemotherapy appears to have completely destroyed the invasive breast cancer before surgery. The surgeon removed the remaining area, and the pathologist found **no invasive cancer at all**, only a small (9 mm) area of Stage 0 DCIS, which was completely removed with clear margins. All four sentinel lymph nodes were free of cancer. Your residual cancer burden was **RCB-0**, meaning a **pathologic complete response**—the best possible response to pre-surgical treatment.

Someone just posted this on the ONP Facebook Group - I confirmed on WSDOT. Reported around 11:09am this morning ... Not sure current status, but FYI.

This has been driving me crazy ... There is a spot that some friends and I used to hit regularly. It was late 80s/early 90s. I know it was towards Wallingford/Ballard from the U-District, but that area has changed SO much that I can't quite tell you which little intersection it was.

I for sure know it was not Toshi's -- They had an amazing cold noodle salad with soba noodles, egg? Chicken? scallions ... that was what I loved, but they also had a lot of teriyaki stuff and I *think* some tempura items.

I sort of remember it being more take-out than seating ... like maybe they had a few small tables, but it was more counter-service-take-out than restaurant seating.

I worked around Northgate at the time, so it was convenient ... might have been a bit farther north than what I'm remembering, but it feels like it was at a "junction" of a few of the major north/south & east/west streets (before everything got built up).

I have some idea that it started with a P --- but not sure. Any thoughts?

There was a post earlier today about the cumulative effect of chemo. I appreciate this sub SOOO much, because sometimes I feel like a total wimp as hard as the last two treatments have been (5 & 6 THP) ... I am overweight and have been sedentary for a bit, so I couldn't/can't help feeling like I've made this whole thing worse.

My mom, bless her heart, has been offering suggestions to move a bit ... but fuck all if I'm not tired enough from washing my bits, putting on clothes, taking a flight of stairs ...

I would have loved to eat healthy all this time, but most food sounds & tastes horrible. I was able to walk down the alley and back for 5-10 minutes, for treatments 1-3-ish, but now I'm just so wiped I can't.

I know that NO movement isn't going to help(?), but I don't know how much I should try to build strength/stamina YET ... I had my last treatment on June 5, so I'm 17 days out ... What was your experience with recovery at this point ... I've tended to feel a bit better just a few days before my NEXT treatment, but curious how much better I'll feel with no docetaxel next week.

I'll still get HP infusions starting in a few weeks ....

I know it's all anecdotal, and the earlier post helped a TON for calming down my fears that this is fairly normal for these later treatments ... But any advice, basic movement, diet tips, etc. would be appreciated.

"Tonight (6/9) at our monthly Elevate PA Meeting we will be discussing the Laurel Street Stairs redesign.

We will be talking about current plaza usage, desired plaza usage, tweaks to the plans, and how those tweaks would affect usage.

This conversation will be considered by the Laurel Street Stairs Redesign Sub-committee at the City.

The meeting is from 6-7 at Anime Kat. The meeting is also on zoom:

ZOOM LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88635844855?pwd=hoLa8mDFVzDc1jPcxsuRHP1iaKPPHb.1

There will be a "detour," but if anyone knows how congested Gorst gets, I can't imagine what fresh hell a detour around it will be ...

https://wsdot.wa.gov/about/news/2026/temporary-roadway-removal-sr-3-near-gorst-scheduled-close-june-13-16-days

I know this is intensely personal, but I'm having a really hard time ... I feel like I'm being pressured into making a quick decision (like within a month of my last chemo treatment, when I know I'll still be weak).

I am 58F who had implants probably 15 years ago. I have a very "athletic" frame, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made as far as self-image and feeling "proportionate."

Well, of course the girls have started drooping, and I have been nervous for an implant fail for years ... SO, now I have a 3cm tumor on the right ... THP. Surgeon feels like she can do a fairly simple lumpectomy -- less recovery ... it's probably what I *should* do ...

But they drained my implants at my pre-op last week -- so now I have comic strip droopy boobs that I know I won't feel good about long-term ...

I'm trying to balance recovery vs. reality vs. identity vs. feeing OK with my body (And it's HONESTLY ME. I'm single after a long marriage, have dated a bit, not with anyone now -- it's really all about what I SEE in the mirror vs. worrying about it for anyone else).

I don't necessarily want implants ... Although not opposed ... What I want is to reverse gravity on these droopy things that are spilling over my chest when I'm on my back.

AGAIN - I know this is VERY personal, and seeking maybe 1/3 medical advice and 2/3 HOW DID YOU FEEL WITH YOUR DECISION kinda advice ... if that makes sense? I am willing to endure a harder recovery to not regret that I didn't do what I really wanted to do ... I think I'll be disappointed with my lumpectomy and just leaving the girls to droop the rest of my life ...

SOOO appreciate this forum to read and ask and share ... I KNOW I am very fortunate for what my actual prognosis is and what I have to endure, so for that I am certainly grateful ... and sending all the love out there to everyone dealing with this illness. xoxo

I started with a 2.9 cm mass on right side, which is lumpectomy worthy.

I have implants (probably 15 years old?) that plastic surgeon drained (400cc each) --

Surgeon says lumpectomy is probably easiest option, relatively OK recovery.

I got implants SOOO many years ago, because my frame is athletic. Stocky. It was a good decision and I felt "proportionate" and happy.

So now I'm 58. Single. I don't know what to do. I KNOW that just the lumpectomy will get that cancer out. I let the plastic surgeon drain my 400cc per implant last visit .. so it's kind of a cartoon shit show ..

The lumpectomy and really nothing else is the easy route. But my self-esteem and how I feel about myself is also important (and honestly, I've thought a lot about this ... It's not for anyone but me).

I have to schedule surgery soon. There are SOOOO many journeys/paths to this decision -

If you just let nature take its course --
If you had implants -- and if so, what kind.

If I could snap my fingers, I'd want smaller, not droopy boobs, vs. the comic strip thing I'm visualizing. Aaaack!

I just posted this on Facebook because I've been sharing a little about my journey ... I thought it might be good for a smile today ... Cheers :)

***

And now a funny story. Well, not a story, but a side effect that I find humor in.

If you get queasy ... Scroll on by. It's not SUPER gross, but ...

SO ... One big chemo side effect is that it messes with ALLLL of your mucous membranes ... mouth, nose, etc. PLUS, you lose your hair (I think I have like 9 eyebrow hairs left), INCLUDING your NOSE HAIR.

Did you know how much your nose hair keeps your nose from constantly dripping? The answer is A LOT. It's like a faucet.

And, in the meantime, there's dryness, and irritation, and inflammation in your nasal membranes, so you get these massive scabby things inside your nose (OMG -- I've been calling them stalactites or stalagmites, but they're not from the top or bottom of a cave, so I just Googled whether there was a word for deposits on the SIDES of a cave ... I'm not joking -- the different types had these names: Flowstone , Draperies (or Cave Bacon) , Cave Popcorn ... among others). Lolol.

SO ... Especially at night and in the morning, it all builds up in there and makes for some COLORFUL results.

Some nose blows are just liquid --- The tissue looks like a bloody Rorschach test. But as things shift ... It is what I call "bloody shotgun snot clot." Shit flies out of my nose like a shotgun. Sometimes into the tissue. Sometimes a big glob on my hand, and most often, a chunk of sticky scab is propelled to my neck/upper chest. Which sometimes I don't notice for a bit. This has happened at least a dozen times.

This will probably only appeal to the people who like to see a good pimple popping ... But it's just so satisfying. lol. sorry, but it's kinda spectacular.

https://preview.redd.it/buqns8hmw5zg1.png?width=754&format=png&auto=webp&s=bc22cf63792341b71a3b0bbab521a90be8a0b670

Join Screenagers filmmaker Delaney Ruston as she takes a closer look at how the digital age is shaping teens’ decisions around vaping, drugs, and alcohol. Through research, personal stories, and expert insight, this film explores the pressures young people face today and offers practical strategies to help families and communities support healthy choices.

Hosted by: Port Angeles Healthy Youth Coalition & Port Angeles School District

Please contact Amanda Sanders for more information:

360-809-0569; pahealthyyouth@gmail.com