Mature Teratoma With Squamous Cell Carcinoma

My mom was recently diagnosed with a very rare mature teratoma with malignant transformation into squamous cell carcinoma.  They have removed the tumor and are starting radiation and chemo next week.  They will do 28 doses of radiation (daily for 5 weeks) along with Cisplatin once a week, then follow with another kind of chemo.  Has anyone heard of this?  Is there a place to research rare cancers?  Has anyone else had this type of chemo and/or radiation?  How bad were the side effects and what was life like while you were going through the treatment?  Any information would be appreciated.

 

On 5/10/2007 Sandiharlo wrote:

My mom was recently diagnosed with a very rare mature teratoma with malignant transformation into squamous cell carcinoma.  They have removed the tumor and are starting radiation and chemo next week.  They will do 28 doses of radiation (daily for 5 weeks) along with Cisplatin once a week, then follow with another kind of chemo.  Has anyone heard of this?  Is there a place to research rare cancers?  Has anyone else had this type of chemo and/or radiation?  How bad were the side effects and what was life like while you were going through the treatment?  Any information would be appreciated.

This is a little eerie.  It describes my exact situation.  I just finished a round of 25 radiation treatments and 4 weekly doses of cisplatin.  THe docs are planning next steps.  I would like to hear more about sandiharlo's mom's treatments.

 

My mom is on cisplatin with squamous cell carcinoma but not a teratoma.Perhaps they can try Taxotere to get rid of it?You havent stated her condition and how her treatment is going.Let us know something.

Oh yeah my mom had radiation and they can only do radiation ONE TIME ONLY on certain parts of the body.Right now we are on three different chemos but my mom has congestive heart failure also.Amazingly my mom's hair never fell out just thinned a little.She has been on chemo for over a year now!