I had radical chemo/radiotherapy which resolved a stage 4 hypopharyngeal cancer (T4bN2aM0) - tx ended in Feb 2023. Follow up scan and subsequent FNA in December acknowledged a small growth(SCC) at the suprasternal notch area, which has since grown. They are now suggesting a biopsy to see if I am suitable for immunotherapy. I have previous declined any form of radical surgery/neck dissection due to what I have been told as the high risk of side effects that would be too life altering for me. The side effects of immunotherapy I'm reading are also rather disconcerning.

I'm not getting much information so far from the medical team, but am worried that this biopsy, may be actually more invasive in nature than I am being told at the moment and could risk some of the side effects I have been shying away from. Is there a 'standard' type of biopsy for SCC in this area and how straightforward is this biopsy?

Any thoughts would be very helpful to me, as I have the option of going straight away with palliative chemo to see if that would have any effect.

Many thanks for any help

Graeme