Squamos Cell Carcinoma/ Skin Cancer

Hi @evelynvelasquez and welcome to the Head and Neck cancer group. You present us with the rare yet likely not unheard of. We shall see whom here has familiarity or experience with SSC in this location.
Is this external on the skin surface or within the sinus? Since the eye tear duct is connected to the sinus, it would make sense that the initial location in the eye orbit may have been the origin. I digress, just tossing thoughts.
Radiation! Proton is very pinpoint resulting in minimal damage to good cells and structures. In this location I for one would insist on Proton radiation. It should lick this cancer once and forever. Don’t let the oncologist sell him on Photon radiation, the cheaper alternative. He may have to travel a bit for Proton therapy but the results are worth the trouble.

@hrhwilliam
Great information. Mayo Jacksonville does not have proton radiation only photon. they are building a new cancer center to open in 2026 that will have proton radiation.

Right now I am told by my R/O at UFHPTI that Mayo Jacksonville referrs these type cancers to UFHPTI as the ability of proton radation to limit damage to surrounding tissues, organs, and does not exit body like photon.

If me I would have taken your advice and traveled to get proton radiation. I made this choice with my prostate cancer and increased my drive time by 30 minutes. This after two dirfferent medical facilities consultations and three opinions with my Mayo PCP and I going over all opinions, tests, to do what we both felt was best for me.

My husband is having proton radiation treatment at the UF Proton Institute in Jacksonville right now. He has been diagnosed with mucosal melanoma in his sinus cavity, very rare. But the doctors here have treated it successfully in some cases. My husband also had an exam by an eye specialist who is experienced in cancers of the eye. Our treatment here has been first rate. Proton treatment is targeted and effective for most.

I had a large SCC tumor just by my right eye brow all of the tumor was removed with surgery and I am now doing Proton radiation with 3 more weeks of 6 left to go. I was told that there could be some damage to the eye duct but so far everything seems fine. From everything I have learned you need to do proton even if it is a long drive like me or even if you have to rent a room somewhere. Most large hospitals have discounts at local hotels.

Just an FYI on Proton radiation. The proton beam equipment is large and expensive. The expense however is not really the issue as the equipment price is actually similar to a Photon system. The size however is the "larger" issue as most facilities simply do not have the room for the bigger equipment, and real-estate is also a consideration in the total costs. The Proton machine I have encountered took up three floors in height and a very large room for the patient. This is likely the primary reason these units are not so available as one might hope. In Canada in fact there are none to my knowledge.
Mayo Clinic in Rochester has a Proton unit. In addition, knowing that the use is specific and important to many patients, particularly children, Mayo charges a use fee on par with the photon units. I understand that several other hospitals and clinics have also followed Mayo's example in this.
Some day I shall research as to how many Proton units exist and where they are set up. Until then, most oncologists should have access to the knowledge of where the nearest unit can be found.

A few years back there was only about a dozen but looks like when I researched it just now there are now about 45 of these Proton Radiation machines see link: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/oncology/45-cancer-centers-with-proton-therapy-in-the-us.html#:~:text=There%20are%20only%2045%20cancer,radiation%20directly%20to%20a%20tumor.

I live in Wisconsin, and we are just completing one at Froedtert & MCW Health and the UW-Carbone Cancer clinics. I am a patient at Froedtert and William Olsen is right they are massive. Matter of fact both of these clinics built them from the foundation for the new buildings where they will be housed. I wish I had one of these back in 2008 when I received my first head and neck cancer and had 35 rounds (70GY) of the Photon radiation, I would have avoided my second and third cancer which I unfortunately received in 2024. God Bless.

Great information. Thanks for sharing.
I had my cancer surgery at Froedtert. Photon in Beloit. Small world.

@deb26
I also went to UFHPTI for my prostate cancer treatment.

I have posted many times for those seeking proton radiation treatments to consider UFHPTI along with other outstanding medical facilities like Mayo and Cleveland Clinic.

I could not agree any more. My care was outstanding. They have 5 radiation gantries and have been doing proton radiation treatments since 2006. They are a highly accredited proton radiation treatment facility.

@hrhwilliam
I am a patient at Mayo Jacksonville. Mayo Jacksonville does not offer proton radiation treatments. They are building a cancer center and will start offering proton radiation in 2026.
Proton radiation treatments are offered at Mayo Rochester and Mayo Phoenix and offer the most modern types and different treatments.

I went to UFHPTI in Jacksonville Florida for my prostate cancer treatment. They have 5 gantries treatment rooms. They do not charge a use fee and have not seen other posters talk about use fees at Mayo Phoenix or Mayo Rochester. Medicare pays for proton radiation and my secondary BCBS paid also. I did not have to pay any out-of-pocket expenses.

Back in 2006 when UFHPTI was built there were only a few medical facilities with proton radiation treatments. That has expanded tremendously since then. There are many proton radiation treatment facilities throughout the U.S. now.

hi william, lilyann here. would the proton radiation work on enlarged lymph nodes. the pet scan showed they have enlarged since june of 2024. i had the right radical neck dissection in january of 2023 and march for the left side. they did want to do the photon radiation but first i had to have some dental work done and it took over a month to heal. guess due to my age. so curious to know if that would be possible to "shrink" the lymph nodes in the neck. thank you