Danielle, statistics are not to be worried about unless you need to worry. That may sound strange but even the worst cases of any bad disease have survivors. My intent was not to scare you or any one else. Just the same, recurrent SCC is not a happy statistical thing. The number I quoted was from something I read, but I am not able to find it after 4 hours of searching. Not to matter though, every person is their own statistic. forget about what you hear or read because your mom might very well be the person that knocks the statistics off the map.

To K, the lip is perhaps the best statistical location for this kind of cancer, my point about the scary thing is still a real number but we don't as individuals know our number. Do the best you can and live.

Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.