Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 25, 2023
@gardibble9870, you ask a good question. Unlike basal cell cancer, which doesn't spread, squamous cell cancer can spread to the lymph nodes and even to internal organs. When treated early, squamous cell carcinoma can be stopped or slowed down from spreading.
Progression of cancer depends on multiple factors such as size and stage of the cancer. Do you know the size and stage of your cancer? What treatments are being recommended?
@gardibble9870, you ask a good question. Unlike basal cell cancer, which doesn't spread, squamous cell cancer can spread to the lymph nodes and even to internal organs. When treated early, squamous cell carcinoma can be stopped or slowed down from spreading.
Progression of cancer depends on multiple factors such as size and stage of the cancer. Do you know the size and stage of your cancer? What treatments are being recommended?
The size of the incision was a little larger than a Quarter. It was on the back of my hand and affected some of the nerves in my hand and two of my fingers. I fear that anything else done to it may have a bad effect on my hand. I am quite old and if the cancer progresses slowly I might not have to do anything.
@gardibble9870, you ask a good question. Unlike basal cell cancer, which doesn't spread, squamous cell cancer can spread to the lymph nodes and even to internal organs. When treated early, squamous cell carcinoma can be stopped or slowed down from spreading.
Progression of cancer depends on multiple factors such as size and stage of the cancer. Do you know the size and stage of your cancer? What treatments are being recommended?
Thank you for the info. I don;t know the stage but the size was a little larger than a quarter. They are just watching it for now, I think because it has already affected some of the nerves in my hand and fingers.
Relating to this original question, I am curious about proceeding with removal. This is the second of these found on me. The previous was about 2 years ago. New one is described as being on my “right ventral proximal forearm” and the lab sample was described as being 1.1 cm by .8 cm. My concern is twofold. The previous removal located about 3.5 inches below this site was not, in my opinion, done well. So at age 81 I’m wondering if I can skip this procedure?
The size of the incision was a little larger than a Quarter. It was on the back of my hand and affected some of the nerves in my hand and two of my fingers. I fear that anything else done to it may have a bad effect on my hand. I am quite old and if the cancer progresses slowly I might not have to do anything.
gardibble---- Same problem here, only my squamous is (was) on my lip. Now (I think) there's another one an the other side of my lip. The Moh's was uncomfortable, the healing was VERY uncomfortable & painful as well. Still is, 6 months later. The nerves were cut as well.
I am old too & don't think I could go thru another Moh's, especially on my lip.
The answer from surgeon was of course you must have it off... blah, blah, blah. No time frame of course.
I have had countless MOh's and other surgeries on my face & other places & just can't face another one.
gardibble---- Same problem here, only my squamous is (was) on my lip. Now (I think) there's another one an the other side of my lip. The Moh's was uncomfortable, the healing was VERY uncomfortable & painful as well. Still is, 6 months later. The nerves were cut as well.
I am old too & don't think I could go thru another Moh's, especially on my lip.
The answer from surgeon was of course you must have it off... blah, blah, blah. No time frame of course.
I have had countless MOh's and other surgeries on my face & other places & just can't face another one.
I'll be 84 in three weeks and I wouldn't hesitate to have a squamous cell carcinoma removed as they can turn very ugly. I had an uncle in his 90s that had the tops of both ears removed as he kept putting off going to the doctor. The second one he let get very large before taking care of it. After the second one, the cancer had spread to lymph node in his jaw which required another surgery and it destroyed his taste buds and saliva production. As he was a chow hound, the taste bud part really annoyed him and he kicked his own butt until he died at 95.
Relating to this original question, I am curious about proceeding with removal. This is the second of these found on me. The previous was about 2 years ago. New one is described as being on my “right ventral proximal forearm” and the lab sample was described as being 1.1 cm by .8 cm. My concern is twofold. The previous removal located about 3.5 inches below this site was not, in my opinion, done well. So at age 81 I’m wondering if I can skip this procedure?
gardibble---- Same problem here, only my squamous is (was) on my lip. Now (I think) there's another one an the other side of my lip. The Moh's was uncomfortable, the healing was VERY uncomfortable & painful as well. Still is, 6 months later. The nerves were cut as well.
I am old too & don't think I could go thru another Moh's, especially on my lip.
The answer from surgeon was of course you must have it off... blah, blah, blah. No time frame of course.
I have had countless MOh's and other surgeries on my face & other places & just can't face another one.
I have had numerous basal cell, squamous cell, and even 2 melanomas. I really can't remember all the surgeries.
I have also had angiosarcoma, GIST, a pre-cancer of my thyroid, the list goes on and on.
Obviously the cancers were found early before I went to my reward!
But everyone reaches their limit, and the lip squamous, is mine. The surgery was painful, the scar is quite obvious , and it is still, after 6 months, painful. The thought of another similar procedure is well, unthinkable.
I don't know how your poor uncle got through such an ordeal.
Relating to this original question, I am curious about proceeding with removal. This is the second of these found on me. The previous was about 2 years ago. New one is described as being on my “right ventral proximal forearm” and the lab sample was described as being 1.1 cm by .8 cm. My concern is twofold. The previous removal located about 3.5 inches below this site was not, in my opinion, done well. So at age 81 I’m wondering if I can skip this procedure?
@skipper2491 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Several of us have had multiple skin cancer situations to deal with. What is your hesitation to having your new spot removed? Has it been biopsied to indicate what type of skin cancer it is? What was it about the previous removal that you did not feel was correct?
I am 71, and have have many skin cancers, ranging from basal cell to squamous cell to melanoma. For myself, I would not hesitate to have any new area excised.
Ginger
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@gardibble9870, you ask a good question. Unlike basal cell cancer, which doesn't spread, squamous cell cancer can spread to the lymph nodes and even to internal organs. When treated early, squamous cell carcinoma can be stopped or slowed down from spreading.
You can read more about treatments from Mayo Clinic here:
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/squamous-cell-carcinoma/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352486
Progression of cancer depends on multiple factors such as size and stage of the cancer. Do you know the size and stage of your cancer? What treatments are being recommended?
The size of the incision was a little larger than a Quarter. It was on the back of my hand and affected some of the nerves in my hand and two of my fingers. I fear that anything else done to it may have a bad effect on my hand. I am quite old and if the cancer progresses slowly I might not have to do anything.
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1 ReactionThank you for the info. I don;t know the stage but the size was a little larger than a quarter. They are just watching it for now, I think because it has already affected some of the nerves in my hand and fingers.
Relating to this original question, I am curious about proceeding with removal. This is the second of these found on me. The previous was about 2 years ago. New one is described as being on my “right ventral proximal forearm” and the lab sample was described as being 1.1 cm by .8 cm. My concern is twofold. The previous removal located about 3.5 inches below this site was not, in my opinion, done well. So at age 81 I’m wondering if I can skip this procedure?
gardibble---- Same problem here, only my squamous is (was) on my lip. Now (I think) there's another one an the other side of my lip. The Moh's was uncomfortable, the healing was VERY uncomfortable & painful as well. Still is, 6 months later. The nerves were cut as well.
I am old too & don't think I could go thru another Moh's, especially on my lip.
The answer from surgeon was of course you must have it off... blah, blah, blah. No time frame of course.
I have had countless MOh's and other surgeries on my face & other places & just can't face another one.
I'll be 84 in three weeks and I wouldn't hesitate to have a squamous cell carcinoma removed as they can turn very ugly. I had an uncle in his 90s that had the tops of both ears removed as he kept putting off going to the doctor. The second one he let get very large before taking care of it. After the second one, the cancer had spread to lymph node in his jaw which required another surgery and it destroyed his taste buds and saliva production. As he was a chow hound, the taste bud part really annoyed him and he kicked his own butt until he died at 95.
See my reply to Mermaid below.
Just realized we talked before about basal cell carcinoma before. Did you have squamous cell carcinomas too? I had a couple over 20 years ago.
I have had numerous basal cell, squamous cell, and even 2 melanomas. I really can't remember all the surgeries.
I have also had angiosarcoma, GIST, a pre-cancer of my thyroid, the list goes on and on.
Obviously the cancers were found early before I went to my reward!
But everyone reaches their limit, and the lip squamous, is mine. The surgery was painful, the scar is quite obvious , and it is still, after 6 months, painful. The thought of another similar procedure is well, unthinkable.
I don't know how your poor uncle got through such an ordeal.
@skipper2491 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Several of us have had multiple skin cancer situations to deal with. What is your hesitation to having your new spot removed? Has it been biopsied to indicate what type of skin cancer it is? What was it about the previous removal that you did not feel was correct?
I am 71, and have have many skin cancers, ranging from basal cell to squamous cell to melanoma. For myself, I would not hesitate to have any new area excised.
Ginger
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