My name is Georgette and my husband Michael (age 58) has been diagnosed with SCC Stage IVC - right tonsil, mets to the liver. He was diagnosed as Stage III in late January 2009, and on February 6, 2009 we found out it had metastasized to the liver. He did the Cisplatin cocktail - three rounds and after barely recovering from that journey the PET showed that the liver was clean. On May 26, 2009, he began the first of 30 radiation treatments to the throat/neck area - finished that July 7, 2009. He'll get a PET of the liver in a few weeks and within 12 weeks, they'll do a PET/MRI of the throat/tonsil. We were a fairly active couple, bike riding, boogey boarding, skiing, lots of exercise with our two large dogs. When he was diagnosed, it was such a shock, because he was so healthy. He did get the peg and has dropped a tremendous amount of weight. When I rub him, his skin crinkles up. When I look at him, I wonder to myself, where is he? I stopped working on June 30 because he was so weak and sick and I restarted working f/t on July 23. I have followed this forum for a while now and in spite of the knot that I get in my stomach, the lump in my throat, and the paralyzing fear that runs through my blood, I have also gained knowledge and inspiration from your various journies.

God bless you all and keep fighting the fight.

Georgette

Welcome to the forum Georgette. So sorry that your husband had to go through this journey. There are many caretakers here that have gone throught what you went through. I myself did not have to have radiation, but have been told that if it comes back I may have to go through it. Let us know how it all goes and how he is doing.

Hang in there Georgette and you keep fighting the fight too! ((((hugs))))

Cheryl

His recovery, and yours to, may take every bit of the next 2 years so don't be surprised if it does. In all my time here I don't remember someone having mets to liver without any affected nodes. Did he get tested for HPV?

Georgette - Sorry that you have had to join us, but we will do the best we can to answer questions, and when that isn't enough, be part of your family's emotional support.

You do not mention in your post where your husband is being treated. As you are aware, mets outside the regional area are very dangerous, and require treatments that most of the posters here are unfamiliar with. It also means that with that added burden to your husband, that he needs to be in the most knowledgeable of hands. There are a couple of institutions where liver cancers are treated by individuals who have made that disease their specialty, and are on the cutting edge of treatment thought. If you find any need to have additional input, please contact me directly and I will do my best to help you make connections to them.

Welcome aboard and good luck with your WAR, listen to Brian as he is very knoledgeable and helpful. Semper-Fi Bob

Nothing I can add except welocome to our home and use it at will and for anything that puzzles you. We have a lot of well schooled people that are up on just about everything.

Thanks to all who have responded. Yes, he did have lymph node involvement - which then got into his blood stream and went to his liver. When he asked how long he had, we were told 6 months to a year without treatment, and 1 and a half to two years with the radiation and chemo. He's being treated at Sloan Kettering in New Jersey. His care has been superb, the effects deadly. If it becomes necessary and an option, we're also considering RFA and the Cyber Knife for his liver. The first PET of the liver came out good - all lesions were gone. In late January he had a bad cold, was put on antibiotics, went back to the doctor the following week because his throat was still sore and the doc sent him right to an ENT the following day. That was on a Tuesday and he had the tumor removed that Friday.

I'll continue to keep all of you in my prayers.

Georgette

Good luck to the both of you.

Thanks again. By the way, I don't believe he was tested for HPV - will ask the oncologist tomorrow. I don't recall - what is the significance? His diagnosis is Right Tonsillar Carcinoma, Stage T3N1M1, AJCC Stage IVC. Disease Site - right tonsil and neck nodes. After the surgery the report said this was a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The PET after the surgery revealed uptake in the right tonsillar region, extending to the posterior aspect of the right base of tongue, in a right level IIB lymph node and in the anterior aspect of the right lobe of the liver that was felt to be suspicious. A fine needle aspiration of the liver was positive for squamous cell carcinoma.

We're both in recovery - he used to be a heavy smoker and drinker. Has been in recovery for almost 17 years. My mom also had the same exact cancer; she, however, was diagnosed at 83 years old. She also was in recovery - stopped drinking when she was 70 yrs old and had not smoked for 30 years. She had surgery (partial dissection) at Sloan Kettering in New York, had 21 lymph nodes removed and one tested positive. She then had to go for radiation, which she was unable to complete and eventually she had to get a trachea put in - which was never removed and which she cleaned, cared for, until her death at 88 yrs old.

Thanks again to all of you - for your courage and the knowledge you so willingly share.