Stage 2/3 squamous cell carcinoma

Hi Kimberley8 

I’m really sorry to read that your stage is higher than anticipated-it’s a shock for you to get that news, and I know you’re very anxious. 

Many of us in the group have gone through chemotherapy and radiation and there are a lot of positive stories of successes in the group.

I’d like to give you some hope and reassurance if I can. My diagnosis at stage 2b was in September 2018 and I went through chemoradiation where my result was no evidence of disease.

Although I did have a recurrence in 2019, I had surgery in 2020 and in March this year I passed the 5 year anniversary from that and am considered cured now.

Please try not to google-it can scare you and you are scared enough right now after the news you’ve had. There is most definitely hope, and you can find it in yourself to get through the treatment-you are young, and you have that in your favour. I was 56 and still coped with it and I’m nearly 63 now!

We will help you through in the group with anything we can-we know it’s scary, we know it’s tough, but please believe you will have the strength to do this. We’ll be rooting for you every step of the way!

I hope you won’t have long to get the petscan results and get your final staging so you can get started-it feels better to have that focus on knowing what will happen. Take care, and look after yourself. Come on here any time to ask questions or share any worries. You don’t ever need to feel alone.

Sarah xx

Hi Kimberley

I am really sorry to hear your news and know how frightened you are, it is totally understandable and what you have been told today is really scary, be kind to yourself as it is a lot process but the really good news is that you now have a team of fantastic health professionals who are trained and ready to treat you. I remember when i was told i needed a PET scan after the MRI i was really scared because there was yet another test to be done and still the unknown but this is the very last test for you before treatment will start - once treatment starts you can focus on that.The one good things about chemo-radiation is that the treatment is pretty quick and although it will be hard it goes really quickly

I was diagnosed with stage 2b in September 2023, finished Chemo-radiation December 2023 and so far things are looking good for me, i just had a check up with my consultant and everything still looks good - no evidence of disease

im not sure of your support systems but please do keep reaching out, you have your hospital team, you can call the macmillian helpline, we are here for you

x

Hi Kimberley8, I was diagnosed with stage 3B in April’23. I had chemo once a week, radiotherapy 5 days a week for 6 weeks and 3brachytherapy sessions after that. Yes it’s all overwhelming and I’m sure everyone will agree not to ask DR Google anything… 

best thing I can suggest is taking a notebook with questions already written down. As someone to go with you to consultations as your mind will be racing and you won’t take it all in. No question is a stupid question. 

You will have a macmillan nurse who you can reach out to if you forget anything. Most oncology centres have macmillan volunteers on site to chat to if the day is too overwhelming, and you have this group. 

If you are tempted to go on the internet, stay with this site…. All lovely peeps, or Cancer Research. ( I told my grown boys to use these sites too). There will be lots of literature that MacMillan put out, not just about cancer, practical things too.

just focus on each appointment/treatment as they happen, and don’t forget yourself in all of this.  Madge

I’ve just had the same today. Staged at 2A2 Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Could be higher if the pet scan (I also had today) shows up any lymph nodes. 

It's a lot to take in. But I feel like my head is so much clearer now I know and have gotten through the waiting of not knowing  it’s stage. X