Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

@zobesca, welcome. I'm tagging @earscan and @susanwatanabe, who also have experience with anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Zobesca, has the cancer metastacized in your case? Which immunotherapy are you taking?

I had liver Mets with this type of cancer. I tried Keytruda but actually had progression on it.
I’ve done Y90 radiation and cryoablation and now 3 infusions of carbo/ taxol with good shrinkage.

Thanks. Yes, my cancer has metastasized into my blood stream and ended up in my L3 and my lung from the pelvic area. I'm doing Pembrolizumab immunothereapy.

My SCC was originally in my ear and was skin origin, not mucous membrane. After metastases to lung twice, muscle, and kidney, I am on Cemiplimab immunotherapy. That is Libtayo. I have had no evidence of disease for over a year now and have been on it two years and 2 months. Now every 6 weeks instead of every 3. Side effects so far have been tolerable with mostly just increased tiredness and a decreased appetite as food tastes different. Good luck to you.

@zobesca, how are you doing on pembrolizumab (Keytruda)? Are you tolerating it well?

Yes....I seem to be tolerating well with a bit of tiredness. I'll have my third treatment on March 22 and then a pet scan mid april to see if the immunotherapy is working....fingers crossed!

I’ve just been diagnosed with this type of cancer, with lymph node involvement. I have been in treatment since March 2021, for ureter cancer. At first this was thought to be metastatic, but now they are thinking it’s the primary cancer, & the UTUC (ureter) cancer was metastatic from a lymph node. That tumor was “unspecified with abnormal ill-defined squamous cells”. This tumor has the same pattern. I am unable to have immunotherapy due to MS, & Graves’ autoimmune diseases, so have had chemo & radiation therapy. I’m distraught about having it again, although a different regimen. Working on those feelings. I hope your treatment is successful, and wish you well.

I was diagnosed a year ago with anal squamous cell cancer. I did 6 weeks of radiation and 2 weeks of chemo the first and last week of my radiation. So far there has been no metastasis. I'm having another PET scan tomorrow, just as a check up and then see the oncologist on Friday. I need to ask how often this shows back up later in other areas.

I too was diagnosed with squamous cell cancer. My was in the anus. The size of a golf ball. After 6 weeks of chemo and radiation. My first CAT scan was last week and it showed that the cancer is gone. It was a large tumor, the size of a golf ball. My radiologist is concerned that the rectal wall is thickened so he ordered a PET scan. That was done this past Monday. Today we will have a video call to discuss results. Next week I will have a colonoscopy because of all my stomach issues…mostly related to the radiation. I’m feeling scared and depressed after reading how the cancer reappears. Like you, I will find out how often this occurs and where. That will be my second question after I ask about my scan. I wish you luck and good scan results

Squamous cell cancer in anus diagnosed with CT and MRI suggested some lymph node involvement. Originally I was told 6 months of radiation and chemo. I have not agreed to go ahead, especially after reading about how tricky it is in that area. I am concerned about being left with a very limited life style and constant pain. Does any one on this form use alternative therapies, or is medical treatment the only discussion on this site? Thanks.