Stella Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 Hi everyone, I was hoping to get your advice,nothing against my doctors(they are great) but I have found that the best advice comes from other people going through what you are. Several months ago I had a bilateral mastectomy for breast cancer. My surgeon at the time couldn't guarantee that I have invasion. Fast foward to today, I have a nodule in my left lung, upper lobe, 1cm and a lesion on my scalp. First biopsy of the lesion on my scalp revealed squamous carcinoma cells. The lesion needs to be completely removed,as it has deep margins and then we are going to proceed with my lung. My lung surgeon thinks the lesion on my scalp may be related to my lung. Is that possible? I had never heard of squamous carcinoma of the lung before. When they remove the entire lesion from my scalp will they be able to determine it's origin ie; lung without going into my lung? I don't want to put the cart before the horse, but I'm rather shell shocked at the possibilities. I do have symptoms; weight loss, fatigue, have been anemic for awhile, sputum with blood (sputum is everday occurence, blood is not) wheezing, cough, pain in my chest, shortness of breath and a new symptom of pain in my left shoulder blade. Would pain in my shoulder be related in any way? Can anyone relate to what I'm going through or have any sound advice for me? Words of wisdom? I really appreciate any help you can offer. And I pray everyone can overcome their cancer. Stella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginnyde Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 Welcome Stella, I really have no answers for you except that I believe that squamous cell is one form of lung cancer. I would ask your doctor for a Pet Scan and a bone scan to really get a good handle on what is going on. There are wonderful, knowledgable people here that should be able to give you better information. Keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhutch1366 Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 Welcome Stella, Squamous cell is a kind of NSCLC and also a form of skin cancer. With appropriate tests they should be able to tell from a biopsy sample the origin of the cancer, whether it is dermal, lung, or breast tissue. The other symptoms you have could be a lousy case of bronchitis, even though they are much like the symptoms for a pancoast tumor. Get your doctor to do the scans, I had CT w/contrast and MRIs of the head and neck and chest. PET now seems more useful. This is a great bunch of supportive people, keep us posted on what's going on with you. It's a little less scary when you're not alone... XOXOXOX Prayers always, MaryAnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanCarl Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 Eyup. If you read my sig you'll see that Sqaumous Cell Carcinoma is the beast in me. It is a "soft tissue" carcinoma and can show up in a number of different places, but mostly on the skin and in the lung. About the only way to tell what's what with what you are describing is to go through the battery of tests and scans. Not a great experience by any means, but an accurate diagnosis is essential for getting the treatment you need. Good luck on all of this and keep us posted. Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 Hopefully it is primary skin cancer. Maybe the lung nodule is nothing. skin metastasis from the lung is supposed to be rare. It may be a lung metastasis or maybe the lung nodule is nothing God Bless John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john Posted July 23, 2004 Share Posted July 23, 2004 Hopefully it is primary skin cancer. Maybe the lung nodule is nothing. skin metastasis from the lung is supposed to be rare. It may be a lung metastasis or maybe the lung nodule is nothing God Bless John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted July 24, 2004 Author Share Posted July 24, 2004 Ginny,MaryAnn,DeanCarl and John, Thanks so much for your kind responses. I have had CT/Scans without contrast though due to an allergy to the contrast. Not being able to have the contrast is apparently problematic for my pulmonologist as he said a CT/Scan with contrast is a like night and day compared to one without. My lung nodule is a 1cm subpleural, noncalcified nodule. Not sure if non-calcified makes any difference? Unfortunately the location of my nodule makes bronchoscopy an impossibility. I can't ever do things the easy way. The plan is to remove the rest of my scalp lesion entirely in two weeks, including deep margins and then "wait" (always my favorite thing to do:) for the final pathology to decide what direction we need to go with my lung. My hope is that the lung and scalp are not related in any way. If metastastic squamous carcinoma from the lung to skin is rare, hopefully I'm not a rare case. I appreciate all of your help. Stella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karenl Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 Stella Welcome. I did post a reply to you, but my computer quit on me before it was sent. In any event, I had nothing of value to offer which hasn't already been said by others. I love the waiting game too - I hope your results are good and that you do not have to deal with any nasty lung cancer!! Keep us posted. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gail Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 I had breast cancer 2x before my lung nodule was discovered, which was also 1 cm. It was removed surgically and biopsied, and it was deemed primary lung. There are a few of us here with breast and lung cancer--I call it my "chicken order". Mine was BAC however, can't help you with the skin lesion. gail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnodel Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 Sorry you have to go through this and that nothing is easy for you! But let's hope that it's just the skin cancer -- easily treated, even if the margins are big. Has there been any talk of a needle biopsy for the nodule? We're all rooting for you! Ellen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted July 25, 2004 Author Share Posted July 25, 2004 Karen, Gail and Ellen, Thanks so much for the nice posts. I've been perusing the board and you all are such caring people. You are all going through so much strife yourselves, yet you all reach out your hand to help others. I'm sure I speak for many when I say it's admirable and much appreciated. Gail, my doctors are fairly certain the nodule is not related to my breasts. I'm sorry you have had to deal with the BC "beast" more than once. When they did my bilateral they found precancerous cells in my healthy breast, so I made the right decision removing both of them and I have no regrets. I met another lady whose mother had primary BC and primary lung cancer and she lived to the ripe old age of 90:) Ellen, my lung surgeon said his plan, after waiting on the final report on my scalp was to take a wedge of my lung where the nodule is, biopsy it and if need be take the lobe. He never even mentioned needle biopsy, not sure why not. I would feel so much better if I had my answers and my game plan. Thanks for being an ear and for listening. It definitely helps to talk about it rather than mull it over in my head. Stella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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