Can Anyone Please Tell Me About Basaloid Squamous Carcinoma Throat Cancer Stage 4

We found out in Oct. that my husband has Cancer Basaloid squamous carcinoma in his throat.  I dont know much about this and every time I ask the Dr. he said there is not much study on this type of cancer.  My husband went in on Dec. 11th for surgery.  His surgery took 13 hours.  They had to take an artery and muscle from his arm to use to reconstruct his throat and skin graphs from leg.  They also had to cut out part of tongue, jaw, tonsil, and some nerves that the cancer had spread to.  The tumor itself was over 2 in. and was growing fast.  My husband had went in November to have removed (mind you was on the operating table) Dr. said she did not feel comfortable doing operation and wanted my husband to see Tumor board.  We have been to at least 25 Dr. and no one tells us much.  They did however say it was already at stage 4.  I really would like as much info as possible.  We do want to be prepared as we have 6 children, 5 months, 2, 4, 5, 11, and 14.  My husbnad has a g-tube and can not eat at all.  He has spent almost the last month in the hospital and is home now.  He has lost almost 40lbs in the last month and was already thin.  He starts radiation next month.  Does anyone know more about this type of cancer and what the survival rate is?  Thanks in advance for all your help.

hello,

I don't know much about this sort of cancer cell - my husband has scc of throat that went to his neck. I know how horrible this is and expecially with kids. It's hard. But hanf in there. Have you called Cancer center of America? You may start there?

Everyone has their favorite cancer treatment centers, but for me. I'd have him at MD Anderson in Houston asap. MDA has been ranked the number one cancer treatment center for years and they have tons of funding so they are right on top of the latest and greatest. Their head and neck wing is amazing. That's all the do.

 

Good luck and God bless.

 

PS. One thing I was told by many at MD Anderson is don't get hung up on the staging. Just let them lay out the game plan and run with it. I own my own very large company so it was very difficult for me (a control freak) to just back off and follow what they say, but that's what I did. Get all your records from all your dr's, go there. They'll have you see Radiation Oncologist, Medical Oncologist, Dental oncologist, etc. etc. Then all those people huddle up together ever Thursday to decide what is best.

Basaloid squamous carcinoma is an aggressive form of squamous cell carcinoma. I don't know anything more about it than that. One thing I do know though is don't get too hung up on survival rates. There are a whole lot of factors that play into them that may not be applicable in your husband's case. The only survival rate that matters is his. Make sure you are going to the best treatment center that is possible for you. Make sure you are getting the best doctors for your husband's cancer in that center and, make sure you educate yourself about his treatment plan and the side effects. Ask every question you can think of and if you're not getting answers, take it up the chain of command. It'll be as tough on you as it is on him so take care of yourself also. You're no good to him, or yourself for that matter, if you're rundown and sick. All of these things will help with your battle. Also remember, there are sympathetic people on this board with tips and tricks that might help you both.

Good luck and let us know how things are going.

Joe 

I have never heard of basaloid SCC-but just wanted to add my best wishes to you and your family. This is a tough time for you and I can't imagine how you are doing it all with your 6 kids! Keep us posted and keep up the strength you seem to have! Gayle

I am not a dr but my dad was diagnosed with SCC of the right tonsil which showed basaloid histology last year. Apparently, this is usually not a nice thing to have and the dr said he was going to treat more aggresively because of the particular histology. But from my research on the internet some papers suggest that basaloid histology in HPV positive tumors is not as aggresive as does in HPV -ve tumors and some even suggested that it is (how do I put this now) even less aggresive than other histologies. Like I said, I am not a Dr, this is just based on what I read (not even what the dr said). I know this must be though on you but after about 2 months of treatment, my dad is much better now. After the last 6 months that we've had, my suggestion to anyone going through this is to pray becuase there are so many unknowns and having faith in God helps the mind to grasp the whirlwind of turn that life seems to take. Also, educate yourself as possible and go to the best centers that you can go to. I pray that everything goes well with your husband and your family and in everything remember that 'this too shall pass'.  God bless and all the best.

Hang in there and keep coming back to this board.  Everyone here has helped me TREMENDOUSLY.  Both caregivers and survivors offer valuable advice.  My husband and I are only beginning this journey but I'm secure in knowing all of you are here.  I don't know the specifics to your hubbies' cancer, but we chose some alternative remedies as conjunctive therapy.  So far, so good.  There is the obvious "keep the faith" statement, but I'll take that a step farther.  Keep the faith in yourself.  Believe in you and the power to provide and get thru.  This inner strength helps me beyond measure.  Mediation is particularly helpful for me.  Also, someone gave me this great advice, early on in the game == take all the help offered to you and don't be afraid to ask for more.  People offer to help because they want to feel useful.  Helping you makes them feel better.  So, I ask neighbors to help with the craziest of things like taking out the trash if I forget or carrying in the groceries.  And you know what?  It is great! 

Good luck and many blessings,

 

 

 

On 1/11/2008 alexajanea wrote:

We found out in Oct. that my husband has Cancer Basaloid squamous carcinoma in his throat.  I dont know much about this and every time I ask the Dr. he said there is not much study on this type of cancer.  My husband went in on Dec. 11th for surgery.  His surgery took 13 hours.  They had to take an artery and muscle from his arm to use to reconstruct his throat and skin graphs from leg.  They also had to cut out part of tongue, jaw, tonsil, and some nerves that the cancer had spread to.  The tumor itself was over 2 in. and was growing fast.  My husband had went in November to have removed (mind you was on the operating table) Dr. said she did not feel comfortable doing operation and wanted my husband to see Tumor board.  We have been to at least 25 Dr. and no one tells us much.  They did however say it was already at stage 4.  I really would like as much info as possible.  We do want to be prepared as we have 6 children, 5 months, 2, 4, 5, 11, and 14.  My husbnad has a g-tube and can not eat at all.  He has spent almost the last month in the hospital and is home now.  He has lost almost 40lbs in the last month and was already thin.  He starts radiation next month.  Does anyone know more about this type of cancer and what the survival rate is?  Thanks in advance for all your help.

Hello

  I hope I can help a little. My father was 52 when he was diagnosed in 1998 with this type of cancer but it was in his Parotid gland (Saliva gland) and ear canal. All I know is that it is a rear and agressive disease. The doctors only gave him 1yr to live without the surgery because it would have spread to his brain and 5 yrs with surgery. He did go through surgery and chemo and went into remission. And that was ten yrs ago.

My tumour was discovered in Nov 2007 during a routine septoplasty operation, it was confirmed as basiloid squamous carcinoma of the nasopharynx, T4 tumour. I underwent a combination of Cisplatin and 5FU, chemotherapy drugs for 3 seven day sessions (linked 24 hours a day) with a 3 week rest period between session for the immune system to recover. This was followed by 7 weeks of Radiotherapy (every day), after having a protective mask made and fitted. This was, as I was informed by my oncologist, a very invasive form of treatment, the chemo can make you feel extremely ill, the radiotherapy will destroy your saliva glands and probably burn the skin on the outside of your neck, swallowing will become increasingly difficult and I had to have a minor op. to have a peg fitted to my stomach to enable liquid feeding in line with my dieticians instructions. But this is not all gloomy news, althought prospects were not too bright at the beginning, we stuck at it, had the peg removed about 8 weeks after treatment, started drinking and eating (lost about 60lbs) and soon started working again. Have just had my petct scan and the oncologist has just given me the great news and there are no signs of primary or secondary cancer cells, and am all clear for now. I would not say that this is an easy treatment, and at times you can feel extremely low, but follow the guidelines with great determination, take strength from others when it is offered and be positive, you can get through this no matter what the odds. It has been a 9 month journey for myself and my family, I am 53 and now happily looking forward to a new start, food can be a little challenging, wine tastes awful, guiness tastes good and I have a completely new wardrobe of clothes. Good luck to anybody going through this but stay positive and you can get there. There is a GOD......