I was diagnosed with metastatic tumors in both lungs on 15 October. I had 5 sub 1 cm growths, 3 in the right and two in the left. I was told by my care providers from the first round of treatments that my only choices were palative care or a clinical trial.

Went to Johns Hopkins, Bleumenthal Cancer center on 3 November for a consult. This is the place that made the initial HPV-16 SCC connection. The folks at Hopkins informed me that I wasn't able to qualify for a clinical trial due to lack of tumor mass, they do have a protocol for mets to the lungs and Started treatment on 10 November. I am about half way through. Treatment is IV Carboplatin and Taxotere followed by a 96 hour infusion of 5FU.

The cycles are three weeks long. Treatments for four days, followed by a Neulasta shot on day 7 or 8. Rest until next round. I will get PET/CT performed right before the fourth round. Plan is to go 4 to 6 cycles depending on tumor response.

During the long month between diagnosis and start of treatment I read the Newsweek article "What You Don't Know can Kill You". How germane. You should get rare cancers treated a reknown cancer center, If anything goes awry the varsity team can make adjustments that will save your life.