Complete pathological response - what does this mean?

HI Irishgirl16, I was told the same thing which I understood to be that there were no living cancer cells when they tested all the tissue removed.  Hope that helps.  Love Ann

Hi, I had the same result and  my oncologist told me this is the best result someone can get from chemo and will put me in best prognosis group. So you should be very pleased for this. Xx

Thanks, that's helpful x

Thanks, this is what the chemo is all about I guess, shows it is worthwhile x

This is great news! The chemo killed all the cancer cells, fantastic!

What I don't understand is that if you have had chemo and surgery, why your oncologist isn't saying you are now cancer-free? 

I had chemo first. I had a partial response, but they confirmed grade 1 rather than grade 2 from biopsy so they were happy I just had radiotherapy and no further chemo, which would have been tablets for 6 months,

I am considering myself cancer free, I don't see any other way of looking at it. I had clear margins and nothing in lymph nodes.

I think you should be celebrating! 

Have they told you what's next? It is just radiotherapy now?

Well exactly, that's what I don't understand. She said she doesn't like to say people are in remission as thee could always been tiny cells that are undetected.  But if 1 in 2 people in the UK get cancer, well basically 50% of us have tiny cells that are undetected……  I will see if I can better understand when I have my radiotherapy planing appointment with her.

Next I have radiotherapy, also 11 more Phesgo injections and then tamoxifen.

Thanks for your response and your view, it's appreciated 

That is surely the best news you can get at this moment! I know the medics don’t like to use the ‘R’ word as there can be some sneaky cells somewhere that can strike up again. I think it’s really blood cancers that they use the word remission for? 

But I’d regard this as the best news you can get right now!

Hugs xxx