Squamous Cell Carcinoma

[WorriedAussieMum]

I recently was diagnosed (accidentally I might add) with a large Squamous Cell Carcinoma on my right hand extending to last two fingers. It has been surgically removed and a full thickness skin graft performed with additional lump removal (from left forearm) and 9 biopsies also done during recovery time. The skin graft site has healed well, but three weeks after surgery a new wound opened up to the side of the skin graft. This has been biopsied (right on the skin graft/ wound where they met) and the results came back as nice new skin growth. This wound is now refusing to heal (the secondary wound not skin graft) and am wondering if I should ask my doctor for yet another biopsy on the non healing wound given it is so close to the original squamous cell carcinoma? Here in Australia the demographic for this cancer is approx 75yrs Male and worked in sun all life, I am however only 39, female and never worked in the sun, and only had two sunburns as a child no further exposures resulting in burns as an adult. Given the non treatable nature of the type of cancer ( once it metatisizes, neither chemo or radiation is of any benefit, and expectancy is average 2 years) I am seeking advice on what to do next? All answers or advice would be appreciated!

[djoyg]

Dear WorriedAussieMum,

I am not a doctor, just another squamous victim like yourself, but I saw that no one had answered you so I thought I'd give it a go. I have a history of melanoma, basal and squamous cell: the trifecta! My most recent skin challenge has been with squamous cell. I consulted 4 different dermatologists over the years that all misdiagnosed the lesions on my scalp and high up at the back of my neck. I basically gave up, until the one at the back of my neck grew to a marble shaped tumor and became painful when I washed my hair. I finally went to doctor #5. He has not done a skin graft. He chose to remove each lesion, one at a time as a skin sparing effect, which has dragged it out. The last one came back that there were NOT clear margins. This one was fully in the hairline (scalp) and he suggested using Efudex 5% for a period of time, it's a chemotherapy cream, over the whole area, in the hope that it would bring up and burn off and kill any remaining cells. It could also make remaining cells easier to deal with. I'm at week 5 of this treatment. It is not brutal, but it is not pleasant. It burns to the extent of being painful. Ice helps. I am worried because I feel a small marble slightly below where the first one had been. Everyone here tells me squamous grows very slow and is slow to spread, but in the time that I have been going through all of this, a significant sized lesion appeared on my shin (quit distant) I had it removed right away, it was precancerous- squamous cell. Every time I see the doctor and remarks that he can not figure out how I got this where I did. I have very thick, near waist length hair and as I have Lupus, I never go out in the sun. I am 40. My first experience with squamous cell was of the vulva, 13 years ago. Wasn't in the habit of exposing that area to sun either.  ;-)  

I would suggest asking about the Efudex cream. It is not always a joy to use, but it appears to be working. It is not supposed to harm the surrounding, healthy, cancer free skin. Only the skin with cancer cells burns.

I am a single mom of 4 sons. They have said things like, "Cancer! Not again!" and, "When you gonna stop being so tumorific, Mom?"

Best of luck~

d.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

How long ago did you get the biopsy done?
Squamous cell carcinoma of skin is very unlikely to metastatize or spreads to other parts of the body,  so do not worry on that account,it causes local disfigurement though.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_cancer
A chronic non healing wound does raise the suspicion of cancer. I would advise you to schedule an appointment with your skin specialist and get the wound examined. Good luck!