Throat cancer with mets to the lungs - options?
October 2014 I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Squamos Cell Throat Cancer. I was HPV+ and had multiple lymph nodes involved on both sides of my neck. I had 35 radiation treatments finishing Feb. 1, 2015. Fast forward a year, since Feb. of this year I have periodically been coughing up blood clots. Bronchoscopy revealed abnormal cells that are suspicious for cancer, awaiting biopsy of lung tissue. CT shows an enlarged hilar lymph node, ground glass opacity, and consolidation in middle lobe of right lung. Assuming it is mets from my throat, what treatment will be offered? What about the new immunotherapy drugs? What have been your experiences?
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Head and Neck Cancers group.
Hey @man4god, sorry you are having to deal with this! thought this overview might help: http://news.cancerconnect.com/throat-cancer/
Keytruda (an immunotherapy drug) was just approved by the FDA for patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. Have you been able to talk to your doctors yet about treatment options? clinical trials?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@megm
Thanks for the response. No, I am still waiting for a more aggressive bronchoscopy that will collect lung tissue for a biopsy. Now it's just suspected. I did read about Keytruda and Opdivo that both sound promising.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionKeytruda has shown progress for many and has little side effects. Talk over this option with your doc. Keytruda has just been FDA approved. <br><br>
Hi @man4god, how are you doing?
@megm
Since my last post, I have had the invasive bronchoscopy on September 1. During that, the doctors did not find the source of bleeding in my lungs. They took multiple biopsies from both lungs and sent everything for pathology and a lot of other testing. In short, nothing was found, nothing abnormal. Fast forward to September 11. I was up with shortness of breath and chest pain. I had multiple episodes where my oxygen saturation would drop to 84-85 and then rebound within 10 minutes or so. I had a ct scan which initially showed ground glass in the left lung. I was admitted and got a cardiac work up. The ct was later read again and 4 nodules were discovered in my left lung, the largest being 8mm. At the hospital I am in, none of the doctors are comfortable doing a needle biopsy unless the nodule is larger. We are currently looking for other options for a biopsy. Because I keep desaturating, I am being sent home with oxygen.
Sounds like you have been through a lot over the last couple of weeks! Sorry you are having to deal with all of this.