Information about squamous cell carcinoma - Online Doctor Chats
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Practicing since : 2004
Answered : 40 Questions
User : I have a few questions about squamish cell carcinoma.
Doctor : hi
User : hello
Doctor : Dr.XXX here.
User : nice to meet you
Doctor : please proceed with your health query
User : ok
User : my grandmother had some ent issues
Doctor : ok
User : she had a paralyzed vocal cord
User : which is better now
User : but they never really found the cause
Doctor : ok
User : a lymph node biopsy was performed
Doctor : ok
User : and they found squamish cancer cells
Doctor : what did it show?
Doctor : ok
Doctor : what stage did they tel it is?
User : she was a smoker for many years
Doctor : what treatment was suggested ?
Doctor : ok
User : hasnt got that far
User : shes got an appointment with an oncologist tomorrow
Doctor : ok
User : we just found out the cancerous cells were squamish cells today
Doctor : let her get the examination and consultation done.
Doctor : he/she will suggest whether chemotherapy is enough or radiotherapy is also needed
User : she
User : she had a chest xray done less than a month ago
Doctor : ok. was the chest x-ray done?
User : and they didnt find anything except for a nipple shadow
Doctor : ok
User : also
Doctor : sorry, i meant to ask if the chest x-ray done was normal
User : her calcium level has been high for quite a while
User : 10. something
Doctor : ok
User : what does that make you think?
Doctor : raised calcium levels could be due to many reasons including cancer.
Doctor : what were the other investigations done?
User : she was on meds and her doc was concerned about kidney stones
Doctor : ok.
User : i know she prob needs to talk to her oncologist and prob get a pet scan
Doctor : yes she would need it to be done
Doctor : to look for cancer metastasis
User : well its metastizing through the lympatic system already right?
User : if they found it in the lymph node biopsy
Doctor : yes, it can spread through lymphatics if it has been found in the lymph node.
Doctor : so a PET scan will help to identify where all the possible mets could be
Doctor : and based on the PET scan results, the treatment will be selected
User : what are survival rates and times for this type of cancer?
Doctor : the survival rate can be told after the PET scan results as it wil help to classify the current status.
User : assuming its lung cancer
Doctor : the prognosis would depend on the cancer staging
User : and she had a clean chest xray on may 24th
Doctor : and whether it is laryngeal cancer or lung cancer or breast cancer
Doctor : if eh chest x-ray did not show any abnormality in teh lungs, then probaility of lung cancer is minimal
Doctor : except for the metastasis if any
Doctor : *probability
User : hmm
Doctor : because if it was primary lung cancer, then there would have been abnormalities detected in the chest x-ray.
User : even a month ago?
User : well 3 weeks
Doctor : yes even a month ago. cancer cells have difference in appearance and cause more blood flow towards them, so the changes would have been seen if any.
User : im not sure how lung cancer becomes detectable
User : *how quickly
Doctor : there are tumor markers that can be tested in blood
Doctor : to see if any cancer is there
Doctor : these tumor markers are cancer specific antigens that are tested
Doctor : and vary depending on the origin of it and also on the type of the cancer cells detected.
User : can you explain to me the difference between small and non-small lung carinoma?
Doctor : these are the cell types of the cancer cells and based on that, the type would be small cell carcinoma, and non-small cell carcinoma
Doctor : the small cell carcinoma responds well to chemotherapy and radiation
User : i am familiar with biology, you can get technical
Doctor : and non small cell carcinoma is better treated surgically
User : which type is faster growing?
User : and more harmful
Doctor : the variants of non small cell include squamous cell lung carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell lung carcinoma.
User : im actually a physicist but i took a few biology classes in college heh
Doctor : both are equally harmful , the small cell Ca responds wel initially to chemotherapy but goes worse later on
Doctor : the non small cell if treated early surgically has good prognosis
Doctor : it ultimately depends on the stage of the cancer.
Doctor : i would suggest to wait for the oncologist consultation and results of PET scan.
Doctor : to know the staging of it
Doctor : and then discuss the further possibilities rather than based on assumptions
User : i went to see her today and she has little appetite and gets tired from moving around the house
Doctor : ok
Doctor : that is common symptoms of cancer.
User : also she seemed kinda forgetful
Doctor : she will be better once treatment is initiated
User : what do you think is idicitive of a good oncologist?
Doctor : hi
User : hello
Doctor : Dr.XXX here.
User : nice to meet you
Doctor : please proceed with your health query
User : ok
User : my grandmother had some ent issues
Doctor : ok
User : she had a paralyzed vocal cord
User : which is better now
User : but they never really found the cause
Doctor : ok
User : a lymph node biopsy was performed
Doctor : ok
User : and they found squamish cancer cells
Doctor : what did it show?
Doctor : ok
Doctor : what stage did they tel it is?
User : she was a smoker for many years
Doctor : what treatment was suggested ?
Doctor : ok
User : hasnt got that far
User : shes got an appointment with an oncologist tomorrow
Doctor : ok
User : we just found out the cancerous cells were squamish cells today
Doctor : let her get the examination and consultation done.
Doctor : he/she will suggest whether chemotherapy is enough or radiotherapy is also needed
User : she
User : she had a chest xray done less than a month ago
Doctor : ok. was the chest x-ray done?
User : and they didnt find anything except for a nipple shadow
Doctor : ok
User : also
Doctor : sorry, i meant to ask if the chest x-ray done was normal
User : her calcium level has been high for quite a while
User : 10. something
Doctor : ok
User : what does that make you think?
Doctor : raised calcium levels could be due to many reasons including cancer.
Doctor : what were the other investigations done?
User : she was on meds and her doc was concerned about kidney stones
Doctor : ok.
User : i know she prob needs to talk to her oncologist and prob get a pet scan
Doctor : yes she would need it to be done
Doctor : to look for cancer metastasis
User : well its metastizing through the lympatic system already right?
User : if they found it in the lymph node biopsy
Doctor : yes, it can spread through lymphatics if it has been found in the lymph node.
Doctor : so a PET scan will help to identify where all the possible mets could be
Doctor : and based on the PET scan results, the treatment will be selected
User : what are survival rates and times for this type of cancer?
Doctor : the survival rate can be told after the PET scan results as it wil help to classify the current status.
User : assuming its lung cancer
Doctor : the prognosis would depend on the cancer staging
User : and she had a clean chest xray on may 24th
Doctor : and whether it is laryngeal cancer or lung cancer or breast cancer
Doctor : if eh chest x-ray did not show any abnormality in teh lungs, then probaility of lung cancer is minimal
Doctor : except for the metastasis if any
Doctor : *probability
User : hmm
Doctor : because if it was primary lung cancer, then there would have been abnormalities detected in the chest x-ray.
User : even a month ago?
User : well 3 weeks
Doctor : yes even a month ago. cancer cells have difference in appearance and cause more blood flow towards them, so the changes would have been seen if any.
User : im not sure how lung cancer becomes detectable
User : *how quickly
Doctor : there are tumor markers that can be tested in blood
Doctor : to see if any cancer is there
Doctor : these tumor markers are cancer specific antigens that are tested
Doctor : and vary depending on the origin of it and also on the type of the cancer cells detected.
User : can you explain to me the difference between small and non-small lung carinoma?
Doctor : these are the cell types of the cancer cells and based on that, the type would be small cell carcinoma, and non-small cell carcinoma
Doctor : the small cell carcinoma responds well to chemotherapy and radiation
User : i am familiar with biology, you can get technical
Doctor : and non small cell carcinoma is better treated surgically
User : which type is faster growing?
User : and more harmful
Doctor : the variants of non small cell include squamous cell lung carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell lung carcinoma.
User : im actually a physicist but i took a few biology classes in college heh
Doctor : both are equally harmful , the small cell Ca responds wel initially to chemotherapy but goes worse later on
Doctor : the non small cell if treated early surgically has good prognosis
Doctor : it ultimately depends on the stage of the cancer.
Doctor : i would suggest to wait for the oncologist consultation and results of PET scan.
Doctor : to know the staging of it
Doctor : and then discuss the further possibilities rather than based on assumptions
User : i went to see her today and she has little appetite and gets tired from moving around the house
Doctor : ok
Doctor : that is common symptoms of cancer.
User : also she seemed kinda forgetful
Doctor : she will be better once treatment is initiated
User : what do you think is idicitive of a good oncologist?
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