Hi Neil,
and welcome to the site, sorry you have to visit us under these circumstances. Squamous cell carcinoma is a specific type of cancer. It's aggressiveness depends on many variables: staging, genetics, health habits, HPV or Epstein Barr virus, sex, race, (and just plain luck also) etc. and there are probably others.

I wouldn't want to second guess his treatment protocol at MDACCC. They are in the top comprehensive cancer centers in the US. I would trust that he is in the best possible hands. I would still do my homework and ask lots of questions however - it really is helpful to be your own, or have a dedicated, patient advocate.

Your raw statistics are a little skewed. The 5 year survival rate depends on the stage and other elements of the TMN scoring system.

Stage 1 typically has a 80% five year survival rate. Stage IV 38%. These numbers do not take into consideration botched diagnosis and/or treatment, health habits, age, whether the treatment was state of the art (like you would receive at MDACCC) or some treatment protocol that is 20 years old like you might receive in a local small unspecialized treatment center in Podunk, Iowa (fictional).

There are no rules. Stage I people here have died and stage IV have survived. A healthy positive attitude and ability to complete treatment is one key to survival. My radiation oncologist gave me an 80% chance of 5 year survival and I'm going with her numbers.