Stage IV squamous Cell Carcinoma

DCrews217
DCrews217 Member Posts: 1
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hello everyone. My father has stage 4 scc on his cheek and jaw bone. The doctoc at the VA gave him 18 months to live. I convinced him to get another opinion and today the can er center doctor told him. 2 months. It’s very fast progrisis cancer but how are they giving him life expectancies when it hasent spread, he had surgery I. Jan 2018 and they told us at thet point they got it all. The last pet scan about a month ago shows 3 more spots in the same area. He starts targeted therapy in 2 weeks then immunotherapy if that doesn’t work. Anyone with similar experience. Or input. He has had surgery in januray and radiation shortly after. 

Comments

  • johnsonbl
    johnsonbl Member Posts: 266 Member
    #2
    Sorry, it does sound like...

    It's pretty aggressive.  If you've already had surgery and radiation and the PET scan showed more local progression...sometimes if they can't control local spread it's only a matter of time before it makes it elsewhere.  Certainly keep fighting it.  I recommend an academic cancer center if you have one close by.  They will have the full array of treatments as well as clinical trials.

    I hope this next round of therapy is the one that works!!!

    Brandon

  • momall25ofu
    momall25ofu Member Posts: 81 Member
    #3
    DCrews, I hope your dad is

    DCrews, I hope your dad is still fighting.  I feel sorrow for your pain, having lost my dad I understand.  Best wishes for you and your dad.

  • lolwme13
    lolwme13 Member Posts: 1
    edited August 2018 #4
    SURGERY RADIATION

    In 2013 I had neck surgery to remove tumor and 21 lymph nodes and was cancer free for 4 1/2 years, then another tumor sprang up on opposite side of neck.  1st biopsy showed no sign of cancer which gave me false hopes and no one said check again in 30 days or so.  4 months passed until 2nd biopsy and tumor thought to have encircled carotid artery so no operation.  Starting chemo Thurs and more radiation to hopefully reduce tumor so they can once again operate,  1st time though they radiated both sides of neck without telling me so new cancer grew in radiated area and

    i've almost used up my lifetime radiation limit.

  • momall25ofu
    momall25ofu Member Posts: 81 Member
    #5
    lolwme13 said:

    SURGERY RADIATION

    In 2013 I had neck surgery to remove tumor and 21 lymph nodes and was cancer free for 4 1/2 years, then another tumor sprang up on opposite side of neck.  1st biopsy showed no sign of cancer which gave me false hopes and no one said check again in 30 days or so.  4 months passed until 2nd biopsy and tumor thought to have encircled carotid artery so no operation.  Starting chemo Thurs and more radiation to hopefully reduce tumor so they can once again operate,  1st time though they radiated both sides of neck without telling me so new cancer grew in radiated area and

    i've almost used up my lifetime radiation limit.

    lolwme13, That is rough.

    lolwme13, That is rough.  This is the place to ask quesionts.  I am brand new to this site, but by reading old posts and all the links, I'm learning.   I hope you get better news.

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #6
    lolwme13 said:

    SURGERY RADIATION

    In 2013 I had neck surgery to remove tumor and 21 lymph nodes and was cancer free for 4 1/2 years, then another tumor sprang up on opposite side of neck.  1st biopsy showed no sign of cancer which gave me false hopes and no one said check again in 30 days or so.  4 months passed until 2nd biopsy and tumor thought to have encircled carotid artery so no operation.  Starting chemo Thurs and more radiation to hopefully reduce tumor so they can once again operate,  1st time though they radiated both sides of neck without telling me so new cancer grew in radiated area and

    i've almost used up my lifetime radiation limit.

    There really isn’t a lifetime limit...

    they cannot reradiate the same area twice, that’s for sure.....I had 35 rads the first time.....25 the second time....and they were talking radiation again this last time, but because the cancer was in the same area, the idea was nixed. 

    P

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