To add to what Brian just posted, once a cancer has progressed, it ceases to retain the character of it's origin (in this case Squamous layers of skin and other tissues). In other words it can afflict (spread to) all kinds of tissue , bone, brain, lung, liver, etc.

In your husbands case is the skin near a scar from surgery or a drain tube?

Last edited by Mark; 01-28-2009 06:26 AM.
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.