Experience I'm a Doctor of Medicine. Licensed/certified physician and surgeon and specialist in Medical
Oncology and Radiation therapy in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and the European Union. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine.
M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps. Now in private practice in Stockholm, Sweden.
I also answer questions in these other categories: General History,
Military History,
Brain Tumors,
Breast Cancer,
Colon Cancer
Question My brother-in-law is was a healthy, active 71-yr old until his dermatologist detected a squamous cell melanoma on his head and chest. A number of successive procedures were done after which it was discovered that it had spread to his lymph nodes. He underwent radiation, over a period of three months, which was entirely successful. Then, as he was leaving, from his last appointment, his doctor mentioned "an unusual mark" on the x-ray, and recommended a CAT scan of his lung. Two tiny squamous nodules were discovered in his lungs and this was confirmed with a biopsy. I am not sure what "stage" of cancers these are, but my sister informs me that they are "pre-cancers" He is now in a series of Chemotherapy injections, of which he has had two and is due to have three more. But they have absolutely WRACKED his otherwise good health! He has been hospitalized twice in the last month: first for a white blood cell count, that was SO low it was off the charts, and second for a cardiac infarcture and lack of his blood to coagulate. He is greatly weakened and depressed but insists he must continue the Chemotherapy. My question is: At what point, or at what grade should these nodules be...that he is right to continue? I am horribly suspicious that he is being made to pursue a far more aggressive form of medicine than necessary for him to heal. Prior to all this, (that ONLY the doctors have discovered, by the way), he was totally ASYMTOMATIC. It hurts me to see the Chemo destroying his health. Do you have any recommendations? Please help. Your advise will be greatly appreciated! Thank-you!
Anthony
Answer First of all if it is the same cancer that he originally had in his skin that has spread to his lungs, then he is now a stage 4 cancer case which is very serious indeed! Furthermore you are actually mentioning 2 very different cancers here. You mention melanoma. I have to assume that you mean malignant melanoma. But you are also mentioning squamous which I have to assume here means squamous cell cancer. Now these are 2 very different cancers and apart from that both are malignant and can be skin cancers they have nothing in common. Therapy options, prognosis etc. ALL are different! So to be able to answer I do need to know what exactly is it that he has?!
