metastatic SCC spread to two location on spine

[jdnoah]

My dad was diagnosed with squamous cell carcenoma June 2006.  For over a year his primary care physician was treating the lumps in his neck with steroid and antibiotics.  July 2006 he had lymph nodes removed from under his arm and a modified massive neck dissection, lymph nodes were removed and as much of the tumor was removed that could be, it was also extremely invasive.  The doctor said that he had a 20% chance of getting rid of the remaining tumors.  He began treatment at the end of August.  The first protocol was 6 weeks of radiation, 5 days a week with chemo every 2 weeks one day a week.  Then he had chemo over 12 weeks, every 3rd Thursday.  The last treatment was the end of December 2006.  He had a petscan in January and the two spot were clear, but now there is a spot on his lung and 2 spots on his spine (C spine, Tspine).  He just finished 4 weeks of radiation for the spot on the top of his spine, the lower spot there are a lot of risks with treatment do to the location. It is has been a month since he finished with the radiation.  He has yet to eat solid food and is only taking liquids.  Chemo can not start until he starts eating.  He is seeing a gastro doctor for a scope this week.    Is there a possibility of it being cured, or is it too advanced, what type of time frame if that is the case.

[docboston]

Disase is metastatic and unlikely to be cured. No one can predict how long he has to live.

[AAKA]

How old is your dad?  They could put a feeding tube in till he is able to eat again without pain.  My dad was just diagnosised.  Monday we have a CT of the neck and lungs to see if is there also.  It has already gone to the lymph nodes of the neck.

[mmb47]

my husband has been fighting primary sarcoma of the spine for almost 4 years.  He has had 3 surgeries and has had several vetebra and disc removed and replaced with plates, screws, and rods.  We are told there is no chemo to battle this type of cancer.  He has had 1 round of conventional radiation and a large dose of Cyber Knife radiation, producing some damage to spine.  Here of late he is experiencing severe headaches horrible night sweats accompanied with an odor that can only be controlled for short periods of time by showering.  I am worried that things are maybe progressing somewhere else in his body and that is dr. is missing something.  He has been disabled now for a year and a half.  Any suggestions for headache and sweats.  He is on pain patches and constant pain medication.
Please help
mmb