Squamous cell breast carcinoma

candyslace

Hi, my mom has been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma on the right breast. Has anyone been diagnosed with this?  And how are you doing?  I am scared since it is so rare.  Thank you. 

chrissyb

Hi Candy.  A Squamous Cell Carcinoma is a type of Skin Cancer and if it is found early enough can be treated completely.  Are you sure you have the type of cancer correct?

love n hugs.   Chrissy

candyslace

Hi Chrissy, yes, I am correct, that is why it is so rare.  The doctors say that it is 0.1% chance and it is very agressive.  We will await the results once they do the lumpectomy on Thursday.  Hopefully it is just a poorly differentiated cell under microscope. I am praying.  It is also triple negative.  Thanks for the comment, I really appreciate it.  Lauree 

chrissyb

Lauree I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for your Mum on Thursday and hoe all goes well for her.



Love n hugs. Chrissy

gcpommom

Candy, does your mom's path report mention Metaplastic?  I have Squamous Cell metaplastic bc, although I have read that there is just pure squamous cell breast cancer, too.  Metaplastic (*not* metastatic) is aggressive, usually triple negative, and is also extremely rare.  Hugs

PipersMom

I have also been diagnosed with metaplastic breast cancer (squamous cell).  I wish your mom the best.  Yes, this is very rare.  I believe metaplastic breast cancers (squamous cell is one sub-type) comprise less than 1% or less of all breast cancers.  Metaplastic is not the same as metastatic - although when you read it quickly it is easy to get confused.  If you google search "metaplastic breast cancers" you will learn about this category.  "Squamous cell" shows up under this umbrella.  I was diagnosed in late 2009 and in June 2011 it progressed to Stage 4.  I doing pretty well right now and work hard filtering what I read and how I interpret it.  In other words, for my own mental health, I take with a grain of salt all info about aggressiveness, rarity, and the prognosis of this cancer.  All cancer sucks!  There are some very interesting medical studies/articles out there.  If you go Facebook and look up Metaplastic Breast Cancer you can find many links to relevant articles and other resources.  Stay strong!  Best wishes.  

gcpommom

Piper's Mom, I agree with you, all the studies for us are so old and done with such a small number of participants, I pay them no mind.  Glad you are doing well.  I was also diagnosed with squamous mbc in 2008.  Are you already a member on our Facebook group page?  It's hard to know who's who with the names usually being different here and on FB.  Sending many positive thoughts your way.

janet1lL

Hi, I hope your Mom is doing well. I had squamous cell carcinoma in the breast as well. The treatment for me was radiation. I am now 9yrs cancer free! The studies are old, as stated, and on a few cases. They do make for scary reading but remain hopeful and positive. 

dogsandjogs

I had one on my cheek. So far it hasn't returned (fingers crossed)

Krisknz

Hi Lauree,



I was 34 when I was diagnosed with pure Primary Squamous Cell carcinoma in my right breast (last year). I underwent a double mastectomy & after final pathology came back, it was NOT metaplastic as they initially suspected, it was PURE primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Yes, SUPER rare & while it is a form of skin cancer, mine was deep in my breast tissue, right up against my chest muscle wall. My Drs said I did not need Chemo or radiation & they have been watching me closely with blood tests every 3 months.

I will pray that your mom is doing well. I am doing well & feeling good (aside from the mental anguish).

redroks2

IBC has been ruled out but Squamous Cell has been brought up as a possibility and I'm curious...how were you diagnosed? Routine mammogram? Suspicious mass? Clacifications? Being that this is so rare I am finding very little information on HOW doctors come to this diagnosis. 

gcpommom

Hi Redroks, sorry you've been waiting for a while for an answer.  I have Metaplastic Breast cancer- squamous cell.  I had a lump appear out of nowhere, and it was painful to touch.  I found it in the shower, but didn't pay too much attention at first since I had like 25+ cysts in each breast anyway.  But this one felt different, and I kind of knew something was up.  Had a biopsy, and that showed the metaplastic squamous cells.  That is how they come to the diagnosis, by the microanalysis of the cells.

Have you had your biopsy yet?  I saw your other post, and think you have another biopsy coming up soon?

As Krisknz mentioned, there is Metaplastic Breast cancer (of which squamous can be a component) and there is Pure Squamous Cell carcinoma, which is different.  Both are very rare, and Pure SCC is more rare than MBC

enjoyingthemoment

I just joined this site..had large tumor L breast, sqamous cell, 1997...Had modified radical mastectomy, 6 sets chemo, and 15 radiation treatments..reconstruction in 2001..My radiation oncologist found only 54 documented cases when she did research..usually the primary site is in the upper resp or pelvic area but not so when tests were done..I was 51 at the time and consider each day a gift..I had a sister  die of breast cancer in 1982 at the age of 38  but  hers was of a more prevalent type..I have not met anyone with  sq cell cancer so was glad to stumble onto this site today..Hope this has been  of help to someone..Blessings

gcpommom

Enjoyingthemoment, thank you for sharing your story! I also was squamous cell, dx'd in 12/2008. I know I had trouble finding others then, I can't imagine how hard it was in 1997. It is always good to hear from those who are a long way out, and even on our Facebook page, I think our farthest-from-diagnosis is 11 yrs. You top that at 16 years. Have you joined our Facebook page yet? (I have a couple of requests this week, and am waiting on them to reply to my messages; so if one of them is you, please let me know). I know many of our girls would love to hear from someone who is doing so well, so I hope you consider joining our group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/metaplasticbc/

I am sorry to hear about your sister.

Hugs

nell0314

I too had squamous cell ca of my left breast. I was diagnosed in February of 2007. I had a cyst in my breast that the cancer grew in or on the cyst. Cyst grew very large. There were many debates at tumor board meetings over my cancer!! I had mastectomy, chemo & rads. No lymph node involvement. I could never find others with squamous cell of breast. 6yrs out and doing well. Now I do not feel so alone. It's certainly encouraging to see longtime survivors. Hugs to all.

Rose

SharonS2014

 

Dear Enjoyingthemoment and others-

My mother was recently diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma breast cancer (SCC)

We are considering now what will be the best treatment for her. Can you please give us more details regarding the specific chemotherapy that you received (Not only the cycles number- but also the chemo substances that were used)

Also if you have any other "tips" regarding the recommended treatment...

With best regards,

SharonS2014

 

Moderators

HI SharonS2014, Welcome to the BCO community. We are sorry that your mom has received a cancer diagnosis but glad that you found your way to our site. Noticing that you have not received any responses and while certainly it can take some time when you first post it is also true that this topic has not been active in several months. Another idea would be for you to post a new topic under the Less Common Types of Breast Cancer Forum. It may initiate a new discussion on the subject of squamous cell breast cancer. Let us know if we can help. The Mods

momswarrior79

SharonS2014

I was diagnosed with metaplastic squamous cell breast cancer in June of 2013. I also had DCIS and IDC in the same breast. I did 4 rounds of AC and 12 weekly rounds of Taxol with Herceptin. As I was triple positive and not triple negative.  I had chemo before surgery. I had a bilateral in December of 2013 and then completed 28 radiation treatments. 

Best of luck to your mom!!!! 

SharonS2014

Dear momswarrior79

Thank you so much for sharing this information.
Wish you all the best and full recovery !!!

kpester

I was diagnosed with Keritinizing metaplastic squamous cell breast cancer almost five years ago.  I had surgery adriamyacin, cytoxin and taxotere.  I also had 6 weeks of radiation.

I hope your mom does well!

Moderators

Dear kpester, Thanks for sharing your experience and joining our community. It is always helpful to here from survivors especially with less common types of breast cancer. We hope that you are doing well and look forward to hearing from you again. The Mods 

Laura57

I have High grade invasive breast carcinoma with squamous differentiation stage 4 at diagnosis in August this year. Brain mets and multiple lung mets. Craniotomy on Oct 1 followed by cyberknife followed by chemo now every 3 weeks.

mike3121

My wife has Keritinizing metaplastic squamous cell breast cancer, the same as Kpester. My wife had a few bad experiences with forums when she became computer literate or as I told her "mouse qualified," and she'll never post on any form now.

Two years ago my wife was diagnosed Stage 4 BC estrogen positive with one met to her spine and to a few lymph nodes. She was treated with 4 doses of AC, no taxol as she had a violent and almost deadly reaction to it. As the estrogen blocker exemestane was working her old doctor then also her new decided against removal of the tumor in her breast.

Sometime in late August or early November the cancer went out of control and morphed into a super aggressive new cancer. It was still ER+ though. They did a radical mastectomy and removed it and 19 lymph nodes. Nine of the 19 were positive for triple negative Keritinizing metaplastic squamous cell breast cancer. She now takes tamofloxin for the ER+.

Their was some lingering bits of the Keritinizing metaplastic squamous cell breast cancer still in her arm pit. Just yesterday she had her first dose of AC. She'll get 6 in all followed by radiation. From what I gather the oncologist determined by research that this sub-type of metaplastic BC is the more treatable.

Their seems to be a building flood of new cancer treatments on the horizon some directed at triple negative. I read about some poor woman with triple negative and mets everywhere and had tried all options was on a Crizent trial. After just one week all the tumors shrunk in half!

I hope to type in sometime after her next PET scan that she's clean. Hopefully five years from now I'd add another little note that she's doing okay.

Mike W.

Tdidier

Dear candyslace, i was diagnosed on May 8 th with squamous cell carcinoma breast. I'm Scared. I'm having surgery June 9th to remove my left breast. I'm hope your mother is doing well. It's a very rare breast cancer only .04 to .1 percent of all breast cancer is this squamous cell carcinoma. I would love to hear more about your mom

NATSGSG

hellocandyslace:

Hope you are well and recovering...I'm visiting your thread to share with you a link that contains  scientific articles of Squamous cell breast carcinoma that I hope that you will find informative and helpful.. You may have to go through and find the ones that are pertinent to you.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/?term=Squamous+cell+breast+carcinomahttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/?term=Invasive+Ductal+Micropapillary+Carcinoma

Also, please consider going to this site, the Society for Immunotherapy for Cancer (SITU) and see if they have anything on this disease using immunotherapy (current hot topic in cancer treatment) to treat it. Consider asking to be put you in their mailing list for any latest development.

http://www.sitcancer.org/sitc-meetings/presentations?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=April%20IM&utm_campaign=IM%20PL%20edu%20Opps

PPS. This VIDEO link tells you what the current hot topic in cancer treatment, Immunotherapy is. Fascinating to watch.

http://videocast.nih.gov/summary.asp?Live=15875&bhcp=1