"rare" squamous cell carcinoma ???

LynetteM
LynetteM Member Posts: 2
edited March 2014 in Skin Cancer #1
My father recently had a "cyst" removed from his jaw that had been there for years. You could see nothing on the skin...just a small "cyst" under the skin that his doctor kept telling him was "nothing". He was finally referred to a surgeon who removed the "cyst" only to find it was a tumor that had invaded the coratid gland and a portion of one of the nerves in his face. The doctor removed all of the tumor and the gland and part of the nerve. He says there is a "safe margin" in the tissue around the tumor. However, the doctor is telling my father that he can only find 12 cases of squamous cell carcinoma like his in the world!! As I said, there was never any indication of anything on the outer layer of skin. If anyone has heard of a similar case please let me know. Thank you.

Comments

  • AuthorUnknown
    AuthorUnknown Member Posts: 1,537 Member
    #2
    Hello,

    If you are interested in learning more about this type of cancer, I encourage you to contact the American Cancer Society's National Cancer Information Center. Cancer Information Specialists area available 24 hours a day at 1-800-227-2345 or by clicking on the "Contact ACS" link at the top of the page.

    Take care and be well,

    Dana
    CSN Dana
  • sunblockaddict
    sunblockaddict Member Posts: 1
    #3
    I would like to know more about the "cyst" that your father had removed that turned out to be a tumor. I have a small cyst on my chin. I've already had 3 basal cell cancers and one Bowen's. My father died from melanoma about four years ago, so I'm a little more than paranoid.
  • kath202000
    kath202000 Member Posts: 4
    #4

    I must be the 13th case in the world!!!In 2002 I had a lump removed from the left side of my neck SCC. It was under the layers of skin. My left tonsil was also removed thinking it was the source of the cancer- it was negative. Eight years later another lump appeared it too was SCC. Since 2010 I have been battling this cancer. Now it has traveled down my throat area 7mm is the size according to the PET/CT scan and MRI. Radiation doctor does not recommend radiation treatments and I really don't want to do chemo treatments, I feel that is just prolonging the inevitable, it will not remove it anyway just possibly shrink it. I am 53 years old.

  • peggylulu
    peggylulu Member Posts: 375
    #5
    kath202000 said:

    I must be the 13th case in the world!!!In 2002 I had a lump removed from the left side of my neck SCC. It was under the layers of skin. My left tonsil was also removed thinking it was the source of the cancer- it was negative. Eight years later another lump appeared it too was SCC. Since 2010 I have been battling this cancer. Now it has traveled down my throat area 7mm is the size according to the PET/CT scan and MRI. Radiation doctor does not recommend radiation treatments and I really don't want to do chemo treatments, I feel that is just prolonging the inevitable, it will not remove it anyway just possibly shrink it. I am 53 years old.

    Kath202000

    I think you should get a second opinion . This kind of Cancer has a high cure rate . If you go to the Head and Neck Cancer board / forum on this website you will get a lot of good info and encouragement . I had surgery and Radiation for SCC that sounds a lot like yours. My best to you.

    Peggy 

  • marriedmybestfriend
    marriedmybestfriend Member Posts: 2
    #6
    Husband died from a similar situation

    Not to panic you, but my husband just died (at age 47) in March from a similar situation. He had a cyst on his hip that he had for decades that the doctors said was nothing to worry about. It had gotten larger and infected, so they removed it. There turned out to be squamous cell carcinoma present. They just decided to watch the area, but the cyst came back. They did two more surgeries on the area, and within six months it was in his lymph nodes. In another two months it was in his lungs. We weren't sent to an oncologist until it was in his lungs. They kept saying that they could treat it surgically.

    We were told this was "rare" and they had never seen anything like it. But the truth is that squamous cell that occurs underneath the skin can be very aggressive. Insist on getting a second opinion and insist on them being aggressive with treatment.  Insist on seeing an oncologist NOW!

    Get the tumor analyzed so you know what is the best chemo protocol. They can send it off to a place called Caris Institute (something like that). Don't wait!!!

    Kerry

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