Welcome to OCF! Im very sorry for your SCC diagnosis! You are in the right place to get not just correct medical info but also moral support to get you thru the upcoming hurdles. Dont worry, stick with us and we will help you every step of the way.

Best thing you can do is to go to a comprehensive cancer center (CCC) and then get a second opinion at another one. Your odds are much better at one of the countrys top CCC's. Here is a list to help you decide what works best for you. Some patients will travel across the country and stay at special lodging next to the top CCC's. These rooms are usually either free or very low cost to cover a meal (like $5 or $10 a night). There are even airlines which will fly you for free. Let me know if you need the links for these services.

CCC List

Anyone who offers their assistance to you write down their name and number. Start making your list now. Anyone who offers help tell them when the time comes you will call them and let them know how they can help. Going thru treatments can get difficult so you may need someone to run errands or to drive you to your appointments.

The upcoming weeks will be busy ones with many appointments with many new specialists. You will want to get a full blood count including thyroid prior to starting any treatment. You should also see your dentist for a full check up and any teeth that are questionable will need to get pulled. You will need flouride trays made if doing radiation so call on Monday for your dental appointment as this takes a few weeks. Take someone with you when you can as many times our minds tend to shut down after only hearing so much. Here is another link to help you thru your first appointments.

Diagnosis Link

You may want to start eating all your favorite foods now. Gaining a few pounds is a good thing right now. Depending how you are treated, your sense of taste could change or eating could become difficult so eat everything now and have no cravings going into this. For most of us these changes in eating are a temporary issue.

Best wishes!!!

Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile