SamQKitty

With cancer of unknown primary (also known as CUP or ACUP), usually the pathology will show similarities to one or two specific cancers, such as adenocarcinoma or small cell or squamous cell...something like that. The cancer cells may be poorly differentiated, but will still usually be similar to SOMETHING. Treatment is usually started with chemotherapies that will treat whatever cancers the cells are similar to. In my case, for example, the cells had some similarities to squamous cell and some similarities to small cell, so I was treated with Taxol and Carboplatin, both of which work on squamous and small cell cancer.

It's also important, since the only affected areas are the lymph nodes, to make sure that ALL tests for both hodgkins and non-hodgkins lymphoma are done. These include gram stains, electron microscopy, and other tests to absolutely rule out lymphoma.

Also, the prognosis varies a bit depending on which lymph nodes are affected, with lymph nodes near the groin area having the best prognosis.

I was diagnosed in April of 2001 with 3rd stage (CUP is never 1st stage, unfortunately). I went through chemo and radiation and, so far, have been cancer free since October of 2001. You may want to seek a second opinion. Depending on where you live, I might be able to give you a few leads to some oncology centers or doctors who specialize in CUP. Please post back with your location (state only is probably good enough.)

Also, you may want to do a google search for "cancer of unknown primary"...there's a lot of info out there. Be aware, however...if you're reading articles from prior to 1998, ignore most of what they say about prognosis (as I recall, there were some great explanations in the older articles, but the prognosis before then was really bad, and it's improved greatly since taxol came into widespread use).

Good luck, and keep me posted.