1. < Head & Neck Cancer
Profile picture for jamirenee72

Anyone had Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma?

Posted by jamirenee72 @jamirenee72, Aug 13, 2022

Has anyone else dealt with this type that was evident in lymph nodes?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Head & Neck Cancer Support Group.

Profile picture for lynkidd
lynkidd | @lynkidd | Sep 7, 2022
In reply to @mmsigler "@jamirenee72 I started my cancer journey in April 2021. I had what I thought was a..." + (show)
Profile picture for mmsigler @mmsigler

@jamirenee72 I started my cancer journey in April 2021. I had what I thought was a pimple for about a year. I went to my dermatologist several times for it and told her to do a biopsy the last time I went in. When I went in to get the stitches out she told me she had read the pathology report and it was nothing to worry about. On Tuesday of the following week the Nurse Practitioner called me to let me know she had read the wrong report and that I have Squamous Cell Carcinoma. I was referred to a plastic surgeon and had surgery a few weeks later. The cancer affected my smile and left a large indent on my chin till April 2022 when I had reconstructive surgery to repair the nerve and tissue was put in the indent to fill it in. I seen the dermatologist today and she found a large and deep lump in my throat. She told me to contact my primary care doctor ASAP. I would be lying if I said I’m not scared. I’ve read about this cancer and it terrifies me. I thought it would show up on the skin before attacking something inside.
Was there a certain test your doctor did on you when you were seen by your doctor?
Are you currently taking any herbs or vitamins to help you fight it?

Thank you.
Myrtle

Jump to this post

You need to go see an ENT ASAP to find out what this doctor is talking about. They seem very irresponsible to me with giving you the wrong diagnosis. Do this immediately

REPLY
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 8, 2022
In reply to @mmsigler "@jamirenee72 I started my cancer journey in April 2021. I had what I thought was a..." + (show)
Profile picture for mmsigler @mmsigler

@jamirenee72 I started my cancer journey in April 2021. I had what I thought was a pimple for about a year. I went to my dermatologist several times for it and told her to do a biopsy the last time I went in. When I went in to get the stitches out she told me she had read the pathology report and it was nothing to worry about. On Tuesday of the following week the Nurse Practitioner called me to let me know she had read the wrong report and that I have Squamous Cell Carcinoma. I was referred to a plastic surgeon and had surgery a few weeks later. The cancer affected my smile and left a large indent on my chin till April 2022 when I had reconstructive surgery to repair the nerve and tissue was put in the indent to fill it in. I seen the dermatologist today and she found a large and deep lump in my throat. She told me to contact my primary care doctor ASAP. I would be lying if I said I’m not scared. I’ve read about this cancer and it terrifies me. I thought it would show up on the skin before attacking something inside.
Was there a certain test your doctor did on you when you were seen by your doctor?
Are you currently taking any herbs or vitamins to help you fight it?

Thank you.
Myrtle

Jump to this post

Hi Myrtle, I can imagine that you’re scared. This is something you need to have investigated immediately and it sounds like your dermatologist is referring you back to your PCP for testing or further to make a referral to an oncologist. It is possible that the cancer has moved to the lymph nodes. To rule out or confirm this, the likely test will be a biopsy. You can read more here:
- Squamous Cell Skin Cancer of the Head and Neck https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/squamous-cell-skin-cancer

Have you made an appointment with your doctor? We’re here for any questions you have along the way. You’re not alone.

REPLY
Profile picture for mmsigler
mmsigler | @mmsigler | Sep 9, 2022

I seen my PCP yesterday. He is sending me for an ultrasound first. He said if that didn’t give us any answers he would send me to get another test (forgot the name) where they go down my throat with a light.

REPLY
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sepdvm | Sep 12, 2022
In reply to @mmsigler "@jamirenee72 I started my cancer journey in April 2021. I had what I thought was a..." + (show)
Profile picture for mmsigler @mmsigler

@jamirenee72 I started my cancer journey in April 2021. I had what I thought was a pimple for about a year. I went to my dermatologist several times for it and told her to do a biopsy the last time I went in. When I went in to get the stitches out she told me she had read the pathology report and it was nothing to worry about. On Tuesday of the following week the Nurse Practitioner called me to let me know she had read the wrong report and that I have Squamous Cell Carcinoma. I was referred to a plastic surgeon and had surgery a few weeks later. The cancer affected my smile and left a large indent on my chin till April 2022 when I had reconstructive surgery to repair the nerve and tissue was put in the indent to fill it in. I seen the dermatologist today and she found a large and deep lump in my throat. She told me to contact my primary care doctor ASAP. I would be lying if I said I’m not scared. I’ve read about this cancer and it terrifies me. I thought it would show up on the skin before attacking something inside.
Was there a certain test your doctor did on you when you were seen by your doctor?
Are you currently taking any herbs or vitamins to help you fight it?

Thank you.
Myrtle

Jump to this post

I have metastatic SCC, initially diagnosed in 2012 but with lung metastasis twice, a small tumor on a muscle, and finally metastasis to a kidney and lymph nodes. It can show up anywhere. You need to see an oncologist as soon as possible. It is beyond the scope of a dermatologist or primary care doctor. There are new immunotherapies approved for use for this disease and better prognosis has resulted. I am on one called Libtayo through my oncologist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN. and my tumors are gone at this point. There they use whole body CT scans or PET scans to check for metastases regularly. I also take Vitamin D, Curcumin, Beta Glucan supplements and a daily probiotic for immune support. Do your research and good luck to you.

REPLY
Profile picture for mmsigler
mmsigler | @mmsigler | Sep 15, 2022

Thank you for the information. I’m still waiting on the ultrasound approval from my insurance. I’m thankful I found this page.

REPLY
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Sep 25, 2022
In reply to @missy22 "I had a biopsy 2 months ago and just got the diagnosis of SC carcinoma. Doc..." + (show)
Profile picture for missy22 @missy22

I had a biopsy 2 months ago and just got the diagnosis of SC carcinoma. Doc said it will be approx 4 months to get the rest of the tumour removed. Is this concerning? What should I be looking out for? Does it spread regionally (tumour gets bigger) or can it jump to other areas? My lesion is on my leg. I’ve had other spots appear on my leg and one in chest but they don’t look like the lesion on my leg.

Jump to this post

@missy22, how are you doing? Four months to get a cancerous tumor removed seems like a very long time to wait. Do you know if it is slow growing? Did they biopsy the other spots on your leg or chest?

REPLY
Profile picture for youngpepper
youngpepper | @youngpepper | Oct 3, 2022
In reply to @thomastunstall "I was diagnosed with metastatic HNSCC and malignant neoplasm of the lymphoid in April 2020. I..." + (show)
Profile picture for thomastunstall @thomastunstall

I was diagnosed with metastatic HNSCC and malignant neoplasm of the lymphoid in April 2020. I had a very small spot on my left interorbital check (caused by solar radiation) that turned out to be squamous cell carcinoma that metastasized to my left cervical and axilla lymph nodes. I had outpatient surgery to remove the spot (tumor) on my face and began chemo/immuno treatment with carboplatin/taxol and 200 mg of keytruda. After 4 infusions (1 every 3 weeks) the CT Scan showed the largest lymph node had shrank in size from 13 mm to 7 mm and all other nodes returned to normal size. My oncologist decided to continue treatment with just Keytruda (200 mg every 3 weeks). After 5 infusions I had another CT Scan which came back NED. All lymph nodes had resolved, no evidence of irregular node activity. Because of the pandemic, my oncologist switched me to Keytruda @ 400 mg once every 6 weeks. Over the past 2 years I have had 16 infusions, the last one on August 31, 2022. The 3 CT Scans w/ contrast and 2 Pet Scans I had during that period all came back NED. Because I have not experienced any side effects, my Dr wants me to have 2 more Keytruda infusions. With the advances in treatment a metastatic HNSCC diagnosis is not as dire as it once was.

Jump to this post

It is so encouraging to hear of your results. I'm curious as to what insurance you had, as I have not been able to access these treatments despite similar diagnosis.

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 7, 2022
In reply to @youngpepper "It is so encouraging to hear of your results. I'm curious as to what insurance you..." + (show)
Profile picture for youngpepper @youngpepper

It is so encouraging to hear of your results. I'm curious as to what insurance you had, as I have not been able to access these treatments despite similar diagnosis.

Jump to this post

Welcome @youngpepper. You also have Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma? In the head and neck region? What treatments options have been offered to you?

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for youngpepper
youngpepper | @youngpepper | Oct 8, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "Welcome @youngpepper. You also have Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma? In the head and neck region? What..." + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

Welcome @youngpepper. You also have Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma? In the head and neck region? What treatments options have been offered to you?

Jump to this post

Radiation and chemotherapy. Mine started out as HPV 16 positive tumor lower tongue and right tonsil area. Could not get reduced radiation so I have been trying to get into a clinical trial or better yet you immuno therapy. However now I have a mass that has turned to t4 n3, this was after almost a year and a half of slow progression. I was trying to get into the Keytruda trial that was being offered , but my insurance is not accepted for the testing so I cannot even try to get in. I might just as well have taken the excessive radiation and chemo and dealt with the toxicity if this were to be the case. Obviously, I didn't understand how the system worked. Or should I say how it doesn't. I don't mean to sound bitter, but I am angry that I was not given either opportunity or any choices. It was, after all, my life.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for davidwrenn
davidwrenn | @davidwrenn | Oct 9, 2022

I hope that you find a trial that will accept you. Keytruda, Opdivo and other PD-1 PD-L1 immuno-oncology are effective agents for gastro-esophageal cancers. I was diagnosed with metastatic ESCC on 1/2019 and was treated with aggressive chemo radiation. I had a good initial response as evidenced by scans but recurrence/mets after 9 months. Started FOLFOX + Keytruda. Tolerated 3 doses of Keytruda before I had to discontinue due to exacerbation of of my MS. That said, I had a remarkable response to therapy with marked shrinkage/attenuation of all lesions and no new mets. Currently on FOLFIRI. So far so good.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.