Skin Cancer Spread To Lymph Node

Hi all, I'm an active duty military member and mother of three.  Unfortunatly my husband has just been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma metastized to his left supraclavicular lymph node.  He is 38 years old and has had a history of SCC, BCC and they also just found a melinoma on his leg.  Last year he had a large SCC removed from his left shoulder and several other areas that were treated in the clinic.  He was also prescribed aldera for an area on the left side of his neck that the doc said he didn't want to excise because it would be too complicated.  He developed a lump above his collar bone in November and was seen by a doc in December but was told to use a warm compress and keep an eye on it for changes.  I am agry because that lymph node turned out to be cancer but was treated very nonchalantly, so much so that my husband didn't feel the need to go back.  Also upon reviewing his medical records it appears that he was anemic back in 2005 and no one ever told him.  I have read that anemia will open your system up to be more susectable to getting cancer.  Has anyone heard of this?  Another problem that I've brought up with the docs is that I have HPV and therefore am sure that my husband has it (long story).  I've read that there is a corraltion between HPV, anemia and SCC but when I brought it up to the doc he said he didn't feel that it was an issue to worry about and that some people are just more susceptable than others.  This doesn't seem right to me.  Does anyone know anything about this? 

 He goes in for a neck dissection on the 12th but for now that's all I know. He seems to be taking things very well but I have been researching everything I can find on the net yet I'm still confused.  Everything I've read says that he has less than 50% survival chance but the studies I've seen are for people in thier 60s.  Will the prognosis be better for someone who is younger?  Can anyone offer any insight or advice? 

Hi Hollie,

I'm so sorry to hear about your husbands medical problems. I just want to refer you to a really useful website that you can use for a resource. It's www.oralcancerfoundation.org  There are SOOO many people there that can answer ANY question you may have. There is also a really good search feature that you can use to just look up your question topics.

My dad was diagnosed with SSC in June and that website has been a huge help for me.

In response to a couple of your questions: Yes, there is a correlation between HPV and oral/head&neck cancers. Generally, HPV positive patients respond better to treatment. Usually though, the treatment plan will not change based on whether or not a patient has HPV or not, which is why some doctors don't seem to think it's important to find out about.

Also, try not to get too worried about statistics. Just believe that your husband will beat it. LOTS of people do!  And your hubby has youth on his side.

Please let me know if I can answer anything else.

 Stephanie

Hi Hollie,

I'm so sorry to hear about your husbands medical problems. I just want to refer you to a really useful website that you can use for a resource. It's www.oralcancerfoundation.org  There are SOOO many people there that can answer ANY question you may have. There is also a really good search feature that you can use to just look up your question topics.

My dad was diagnosed with SSC in June and that website has been a huge help for me.

In response to a couple of your questions: Yes, there is a correlation between HPV and oral/head&neck cancers. Generally, HPV positive patients respond better to treatment. Usually though, the treatment plan will not change based on whether or not a patient has HPV or not, which is why some doctors don't seem to think it's important to find out about.

Also, try not to get too worried about statistics. Just believe that your husband will beat it. LOTS of people do!  And your hubby has youth on his side.

Please let me know if I can answer anything else.

 Stephanie

He need irradiation of the SC area and neck to prevent futher recurrence.

Sounds like he has severe skin cancers at a relatively young age, this usually means a genetic tendency and the cancers can be more aggressive.

Once a skin cancer goes to the lymphnodes you have to treat it as any other cancer.  Stage it and get appropriate treatment.  Your husband should have a PeT scan or at least Ct scans to rule out other disease.