CLL, skincancer and is this the end?

[Concerned99]

Husband is 73 has CLL for 10 years and any type of skincare you can think of and Diabetis2. As he is an avid walker he is fit and you would not know that he has all this happening. The latest cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma has been removed but one lymph node has cancer cells. I hope he will survive this.

[Pacificview]

There are immunotherapys like Keytruda that work really well at destroying a tumor. Even when it lights up scary bright red and large on Pet Scan. Keytruda was just approved here in the USA for SCC a few years ago.If your husbands SCC tumor has penetrated through the skin layers? It can travel through the body popping up at various places internally or externally (metatstatic).

Lighting up on Petscan as being hypermetabolic.

If it has gone systemic? personally I would treat it systemically if you are able to. Disolving a tumor through immunotherapy sure beats invasive surgery or radiation if you have the immunotherapy option where you live.

Of course if the SCC has not penetrated down through the skin layers. Surgery is most often first choice. As it can be quick and effective if they are able to remove it with safe margins.

John

[jabee]

Sorry to hear about your husband’s SCC. I notice you are in the Netherlands so I don’t know what is available in your country but I agree with Pacificview that immunotherapy can be incredibly effective if the SCC has spread. Being very fit will definitely help your husband in dealing with whatever treatment he is offered. I hope everything goes well.

[kitchengardener2]

I am sorry to read about your husband's problems and pray that it can be resolved without causing too much illness. You have the support of us all here.

[LeoPa]

Please check my latest post and the linked video for patients who struggle with secondary cancers.

[keeptalking]

Sorry to hear about your husband and can understand your concerns.

I am awaiting surgery on three more skin cancers and are feeling increasingly anxious as I’ve waited 14months for this. I just hope that the doctors don’t strike on that day.

Could someone please explain what they mean by immunotherapy. Is this the drugs that we keep hearing about? Venentoclax, obrutinib etc.? Keep giving updates about your husband.

[SofiaDeo in reply to keeptalking]

In this context, "immunotherapy" refers to the monoclonal antibody drugs used to treat certain SCC.

cancer.org/cancer/basal-and...

Other options (like surgery) are used when the SCC's are smaller/less invasive, and often go in this order:

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

[Analeese]

Having Dermatologist exam’s twice a year is so very important. I credit mine for the excellent results I have had after my reoccurring SCC.

[keeptalking in reply to Analeese]

Are you in the uk? How do you get twice yearly exams? My hospital told me they don’t do yearly exams anymore. Hence waiting a year after the gp referral.

[Analeese]

I am in the US. Once diagnosed with a skin cancer. It’s exams twice a year. It is completely covered by Medicare.