CancerCompass message board discussion started by Spearman on 6/22/2005 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,2306,0.htm Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ My mother was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma which started in the uterus. We were told this was very rare. The tumor was not discovered until it was very large. The cancer had spread to her lungs. Her doctors are treating her as though she has cervical cancer. Her type of cancer is so rare they do not have an established treatment for it. She went through three months of chemo (Cisplatin), and this shrunk some turmor but a few tumors grew. We still do not understand why some grew. She is now receiving Taxol. I have looked for information on several cancer web sites, but they do not list this type of cancer. I am looking for any information on this type of cancer. Spearman Wed, 22 Jun 2005 00:00:00 GMT Kristy: Medical records had this information which included the word "squamous cell" which apparently means new cell growing...The diagosis however was of uterine cancer in Stage 1 that can have other names to describe each growth stage of the cancer. The National Cancer Institute has a website and gives very informative info. Diagnosis: The uterine cancer had been described as in Stage 1 (Adeno-carcinoma endometrial) whereby the biopsy described the early cancer growths as: "Grade 1, with squamous (morular) metaplasia " NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE: Stage I Endometrial Cancer Standard treatment options: If the tumor is well or moderately differentiated, involves the upper two thirds of the corpus, has negative peritoneal cytology, is without vascular space invasion, and has less than 50% myometrial invasion, a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy should be done. Selected pelvic lymph nodes may be removed. If they are negative, no postoperative treatment is indicated. Postoperative treatment with a vaginal cylinder is advocated by some.[1] For all other cases and cell types, a periaortic and selective pelvic node sampling should be combined with the total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy if there are no medical or technical contraindications. One study found that node dissection per se did not significantly add to the overall morbidity from hysterectomy.[2] While the irradiation will reduce the incidence of local and regional recurrence, improved survival has not been proven and toxic effects are worse.[3-6] If the pelvic nodes are positive and the periaortic nodes are negative, total pelvic irradiation, including the common iliac nodes, should be given. The incidence of bowel complications is approximately 4%, and it can be even higher if the radiation is given after pelvic lymphadenectomy.[7] If the surgery is done using a retroperitoneal approach, the toxic effects are lessened. If the periaortic nodes are positive, the patient is a candidate for clinical trials that could include radiation and/or chemotherapy. Patients who have medical contraindications to surgery should be treated with radiation therapy alone, but inferior cure rates below those attained with surgery may occur.[1,8,9] References 1. Eltabbakh GH, Piver MS, Hempling RE, et al.: Excellent long-term survival and absence of vaginal recurrences in 332 patients with low-risk stage I endometrial adenocarcinoma treated with hysterectomy and vaginal brachytherapy without formal staging lymph node sampling: report of a prospective trial. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 38 (2): 373-80, 1997. [PUBMED Abstract] 2. Homesley HD, Kadar N, Barrett RJ, et al.: Selective pelvic and periaortic lymphadenectomy does not increase morbidity in surgical staging of endometrial carcinoma. Am J Obstet Gynecol 167 (5): 1225-30, 1992. [PUBMED Abstract] 3. Aalders J, Abeler V, Kolstad P, et al.: Postoperative external irradiation and prognostic parameters in stage I endometrial carcinoma: clinical and histopathologic study of 540 patients. Obstet Gynecol 56 (4): 419-27, 1980. [PUBMED Abstract] 4. Morrow CP, Bundy BN, Kurman RJ, et al.: Relationship between surgical-pathological risk factors and outcome in clinical stage I and II carcinoma of the endometrium: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study. Gynecol Oncol 40 (1): 55-65, 1991. [PUBMED Abstract] 5. Marchetti DL, Caglar H, Driscoll DL, et al.: Pelvic radiation in stage I endometrial adenocarcinoma with high-risk attributes. Gynecol Oncol 37 (1): 51-4, 1990. [PUBMED Abstract] 6. Creutzberg CL, van Putten WL, Koper PC, et al.: Surgery and postoperative radiotherapy versus surgery alone for patients with stage-1 endometrial carcinoma: multicentre randomised trial. PORTEC Study Group. Post Operative Radiation Therapy in Endometrial Carcinoma. Lancet 355 (9213): 1404-11, 2000. [PUBMED Abstract] 7. Greven KM, Lanciano RM, Herbert SH, et al.: Analysis of complications in patients with endometrial carcinoma receiving adjuvant irradiation. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 21 (4): 919-23, 1991. [PUBMED Abstract] 8. Stokes S, Bedwinek J, Kao MS, et al.: Treatment of stage I adenocarcinoma of the endometrium by hysterectomy and adjuvant irradiation: a retrospective analysis of 304 patients. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 12 (3): 339-44, 1986. [PUBMED Abstract] 9. Grigsby PW, Kuske RR, Perez CA, et al.: Medically inoperable stage I adenocarcinoma of the endometrium treated with radiotherapy alone. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 13 (4): 483-8, 1987. [PUBMED Abstract] Allison Mon, 01 Aug 2005 00:00:00 GMT I am 30 and was diagnosed also with squamous cell carcinoma 2 months ago and will be undergoing a hysterectomy on the 28th.....I was wondering how your mother is doing? Do you think you could tell me what you know about this type of cancer? Is your mother doing mycromedicinals or Essiac tea? Anything alternative? Browniegirl Sat, 17 Sep 2005 00:00:00 GMT