Hi Cyndi, I am sorry that you need to be here. Having said that, this is a wonderful place to come for support and advice.
I too was a bit peturbed to read that staging will be done during surgery. Staging should always be done prior to any treatment being offered and includes scans - CTs/MRIs/PETs. Please check on this. I also highly recommend a 2nd opinion as Christine says, at a CCC. It is so important to get this right, from the start.
I wish you well and hope your staging is a good one. No N . No M.
Tammy

Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis
DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT.
PET 6/11 clear.
R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED
Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in.
March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!