I've been a member of this board for three years, having promised my husband's Aunt Rosemary (who I love dearly) that I would walk this journey with her every step of the way. Thank the good Lord, Aunt Ro is physically doing well (no reoccurence), but has been depressed for a year. Late last week we found out that my husband's mother's lymph node biopsy came back SCC, unknown primary. She went to an ENT a few days ago and he took some biopsies and we're awaiting the results to see if they've found the primary. She might also have a mets in her lung, as her scan came back with a mass there.

The question is- how often does this happen to more than one person in a family? Is there a genetic predisposition to this particular type of cancer? or is two sisters having this just one hell of a bad coincidence?


Lisa S.D.
Niece to Aunt Ro- April 2003- SCC base of tongue stage 3/4, mets to floor of mouth, one saliva gland and one lymph node.

Niece to Aunt Ro- Dx: 4/03. SCC Stg 4 BOT with mets to fl of mth & crvcl lymph node. AdenoC 1 sal gland. Two add. reconstrc. surgeries for adhesions. Recurrence 7/06- Sub-Mand AdenoC. Mets to both lungs. Lost her battle 5/4/07.