Does anyone know the term paronychia. That is what I have come up with for these infections he is getting around his fingernail beds. I have read online that is can be a sign of metastasized SCC. This is a causing me a panic. Can anyone tell me if they have had experience with this infection and what caused it or what it may indicate. Thanks again, and again.... Teresa

Teresa - this is a rather common thing. See this link http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1106062-overview

I dont' believe I've ever heard that it could be related to SCC. Seems unlikely. Can be related to a compromised immune system - if the patient is on steroids, etc.

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/785158-overview

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20010315/1113.html

Individuals in treatment for cancer have severely altered natural flora in their bodies. The balance of symbiotic fungus such as Candida, which lives within us as a saprophytic eliminator of dead and dying cells can bloom, and you read here on the boards of many people that have had these blooms occur in their mouths, commonly referred to as thrush. Were the balance of flora normal this would not occur, but anytime our systems are being thrown out of balance these kinds of things happen. So the treatments can cause the loss of balance, resulting in both bacterial and fungal blooms and infections. It goes without saying that cancer itself has the highest ability to through the balance of our bodies out of sync.