Adenosquamous Skin Cancer

Dear Navy mum2,

Thank you for getting in touch and welcome to the Online Community. I’m Kerry one of the Cancer Information Nurses here on the Macmillan Support Line.

I’m sorry to hear of your partner’s diagnosis. Adenosquamous skin cancer is a rarer form of Squamous cell Carcinoma (SCC).

I hope all goes well with his scan on Saturday.

As you’ve mentioned, once the scan results are back, they will then discuss them in a multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT) to decide on the most appropriate treatment plan for your partner.

Waiting for scan results and treatment plans can be a difficult time and it’s important to look after yourselves and reach out for support if you need it.

Radiotherapy is given using precise measurements to ensure that only the cancerous cells are targeted, whilst causing as little harm to normal cells as possible.

The measurements are obtained during a planning appointment where your partner may have a CT scan or xrays to show the cancer and area around it.  This allows them to identify the exact area to be treated.

The radiographer will then make pinpoint sized tattoo marks on his skin to show the area to be treated. They use these marks to line up the radiotherapy machine to the tattoos to make sure they treat the exact same area for all the appointments.

As your partner is having radiotherapy to his head he may need to wear a mould which is like a shell case to keep him still during the treatment.

As this is a measured dose and targeted precisely at the area this aims not to cause damage to surrounding areas.  The radiologist will be able to talk to you and your partner through of this in more detail at the planning appointment.

Because the radiotherapy affects only a small area of skin, it shouldn’t make him feel unwell, however with all treatments there can be side effects.

It will be important for your partner to look after his skin during and after treatment as it can have effects on the skin. The skin may be red and inflamed for up to a month after treatment.

You mentioned that your partner is in denial at the moment. Everyone deals with things differently and there is no right or wrong way of coping.

Having information on what is happening can help your partner have some control over his care and allow him to make informed choices about his care.

There is lots of support available for you both, We have a skin cancer forum where you can chat to others in similar situations, and a family and friends forum where you yourself can get support. It can be difficult seeing and supporting a loved one going through a cancer diagnosis.

I hope this information is helpful. If you have any further questions, please get in touch again. You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email or contact us through Webchat

Best wishes

Kerry

Cancer Information Nurse Specialist

Ref KHa/DC

Hello following the previous contact it is nearly a month since my partner had his head and neck scan and 3 weeks since he received a letter showing letters had gone to the various MDT members. No further communication has been received and as I mentioned before he was in denial he is now not wanting to pursue the radiotherapy. I think the longer it takes to get some appointments the more reluctant he is becoming. Is there anyway we expedite an appointment?  Thank you 

Hi Navy Mum2,

Welcome back to the Online Community at Macmillan. I’m Kirstine, one of the nurses here. I’m sorry to read of the distress the waiting is causing and appreciate your concerns and wish for radiotherapy to be scheduled. Naturally, you will be very concerned and want the best for your partner.

The best thing we can advise is to make contact with the hospital team to ask for an update on what is happening. Many people will have a nominated Clinical Nurse Specialist that works within that Multidisciplinary Team. This person can be a good point of contact with questions and concerns. If you are not sure on who this is, then you could consider reaching out to the Consultant’s secretary who may be very helpful in providing information and advice on the progress of his treatment planning.

Radiotherapy suites work with tightly filled schedules and so it might be a case of simply waiting until a slot is available. I understand your wish for information, and it is absolutely alright to approach the hospital to ask for some communication on this. It can be hard feeling like time is passing and you are not aware of the plan.

I wish you both the best of luck moving forwards with this.

Kirstine – Macmillan
Cancer Information Nurse Specialist
You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email. Ref KDf/ DK