Stage 4 Buccal SCC PNI, poorly differentiated, 3 Positive nodes

Stage4BuccalSCC

Hi warriors,

My husband (48yrs old non-HPV) has stage 4 Buccal (Cheek) cancer, poorly differentiated, three positive nodes, deep invasion with peri invasion. He starts radiation Monday. Two cancer institutes did not recommend chemo since margins clear. All of my research gives a VERY poor prognosis. Thanks to this group I’ve learned he is not a statistic, and tomorrow is not promised so why worry about death down the road... still, I’M TERRIFIED. I spend every free second researching Buccal cancer and how to make radiation as comfortable as possible. He’s got a 5- 15% chance of survival. Nearly 100% chance of early reoccurrence with his five aggressive features... Are there any long term stage 4 Buccal SCC survivors out there? Poorly differentiated? Peri invasion? 3+ positive nodes? Deep invasion? I’m running out of hope to cling to.

swopoe

My husband’s cancer was stage

My husband’s cancer was stage 1 tongue with clear margins. But it was HPV- with PNI, poorly differentiated with deep invasion. We were also given the option after surgery to wait and do nothing else. My husband was almost 41 yrs old at the time, and our surgeon was about the same age, and said that he would do chemo and radiation to be safe because you never want to take any chances especially with an aggressive cancer. So that is what we did. My husband has been cancer free now for 4 years. Ask your doctor for the nccn cancer guidelines. See what they recommend for this specific type of cancer. And you can always get a second opinion. Please do not give up. Best of luck and prayers to you.

Sabrina23

Prayers are with you always

Prayers are with you always.  Swopoe is right ask Doctor for NCCN guidelines and you can always get a second opinion.  Do not give up and prayers are with you and everyone on this forum. God Bless You and your Husband.  I am wondering if doing a CSN search for BuccalSCC pulls up anything.... it may.