| Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 388 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 388 | So Dick has gone thru 4 or so recurrences of SCC oral cancer. He just this week had a biopsy of his nose come back positive for basal cell cancer and he will have some Mohs surgery soon. He has had several cancers on his face and elsewhere, both SCC and basal cell cancers. Is this hereditary or just something in his immune system or WHAT?! I never hear anyone talk about exterior skin cancers in here and was wondering if anyone else who has had oral cancers have had exterior skin cancers too? Thanks. Jane
Husband: 3 SCC gum and cheek cancers 2002, 2005, 2006: surgery only. Scans clear after removal of small, well differentiated, non-invasive cancers. No radiation. 4th SCC lip diagnosed 4/13/07 - in situ, removed in biopsy. More lip removed 2/8/08 - dysplasia. 2 Biopsies 3/17/09 no cancer (lichenoids)
| | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 453 "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) | "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 453 | Hi Jane, Steve's father has battled with skin cancer on his face for many years. We always thought that he just had these skin cancers but when Steve was diagnosed with SCC his dad told us that he too had been treated for oral cancer (not sure if he had SCC, he hasn't told us). He has had surgery to have part of his tongue removed and he told us they scraped his jaw bone as well(?). He has since had surgery a 2nd time for the skin cancer but has to go back for more as they missed some on his nose. Steve's Dad said his doctor told him that it's highly likely that Steve having SCC is hereditory from him. Don't know how much truth there is in this but it's something to think about.
Wife to Steve 43. DX 5 May 09. T4N2MO SCC tongue, floor of mouth, lymph nodes & jaw bone No surgery Teeth removed 06/07/2009 radiation 13/07/2009 x 7wks chemo 15/07/2009 x 3 Cisplatin last TX 28/08/2009 25/11/2009 PET-lymph node activity. 08/01/2010 CT Scan-ALL CLEAR 03/03/2010-Peg removed 01/2013 left side of Jaw removed and replaced with pectoral flap. 23/12/2020 scan show lesion in tongue 01/2021 SCC stage 3 base of tongue diagnosed 01/03/2021 chemotherapy started.
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Noone knows anything, it seems that dispells or confirms these causes it seem. Life offers us no guarantees but it sure would be nice.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April. --- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 | I have had a few basal cell and 2 squamous cell skin cancers removed over the years from face and upper chest. Mostly due to being raised in California and being a competetive swimmer/water polo player for 20 years before "SPF" was a term that was used! Jeff SCC Right BOT Dx 3/28/2007 T2N2a M0G1,Stage IVa Bilateral Neck Dissection 4/11/2007 39 x IMRT, 8 x Cisplatin Ended 7/11/07 Complete response to treatment so far!!
| | | | Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 388 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 388 | Thanks, Wendy, Jim, and Jeff for your comments. I just was so curious if there was a "connection" but my guess it's more like a "susceptibility" to these cancers. Wendy, my husband had his jaw shaved too, plus losing a couple teeth during that surgery, but there was no cancer in those tissues. Yes, it is indeed something to think about, but not dwell on. We just have to watch like hawks for any changes, interior OR exterior. Dick is probably exposed to too much sun down here in Florida too, even with "SPF". Someday, science will answer these questions. Thanks again all! : )
Husband: 3 SCC gum and cheek cancers 2002, 2005, 2006: surgery only. Scans clear after removal of small, well differentiated, non-invasive cancers. No radiation. 4th SCC lip diagnosed 4/13/07 - in situ, removed in biopsy. More lip removed 2/8/08 - dysplasia. 2 Biopsies 3/17/09 no cancer (lichenoids)
| | | | Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 88 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 88 | Jane, Interestingly enough I asked some of these questions to Brandy's H&N surgeon when she was initially diagnosed and then had her reoccurence. Mainly because her fathers grandmother whom I was caretaker too had SCC on her face and head a lot in her last years.
Even though Oral Cancer is diagnosed as SCC and skin cancer is SCC the surgeon told me that you cannot die from SCC skin cancer but you can die from Oral Cancer as we have read. I remember clearly that Grandma told me that her sister had died from it and lost more half of her nose. Because that was so many years ago it made me ask and I now believe she may have had oral cancer vs. just skin cancer and back then which was over 30-40 years ago when she passed away we just did not have the medical knowledge about oral cancer that we have today.
I remember the MOHS surgery well as the surgery to remove the skin SCC was quite intense the last time. But it is absolutely amazing how our bodies can regenerate and heal from so much.
My daughter has not had the skin cancer but due to other skin issues she does not go out in the sun much without coverage. From my experience they are not related and as far as we have tested are not genetic.
Bonnie
CG to daughter Brandy age 31 initial dx 10/06 SCC T4N0M0 with bone invasion upper maxillary Surgery 10/06 CT's clear for 2 years
2nd recurrence - Laser surgery 1/09 dx Tumor board - No surgery to invasive for QOL 35 IMRT 3/30/09 Completed 5/15/09 8 tx Erbitux 3/24/09 Completed 5/6/09
| | | | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | I have had solar keratosis on my feet and hands for years. Some of these eventually turn into SCC and need to either be frozen or surigcally removed. I have spent most of my summers in the sun but do not burn. I too was told that SCC skin cancer is very different from SCC oral cancer. I was given a chemo cream to use which worked very well for about 6 months and now seem to have developed a reaction to it and can't use. Back to freeze and cut.
Take care, Eileen
---------------------- Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
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