My husband was diagnosed with T2N1M0 at the time of his diagnosis. When he had a reoccurence recently the Dr.s write-up now says tumor was Mod diff., Stage 3 of 4 and he had 4 nodes, largest 2.5cm, with extracapular extentions so that would be T3N2M0 I think. So should I use this when referencing his stage?

I know the type of cancer you have doesn't change even if it shows up somewhere else in the body as the cells will prove if it is a reoccurence or a new cancer.

Just curious. Karen

I will tell you what my Stages were, it may help you. The first time I got SCC, I had 2 completely seperate tumors each was Stage 1. The next year my tumor was very very tiny and was a Stage 1. It was caught immediately and removed about a week later. The third time I got sick I was StageIV, the cancer had invaded my jaw bone. My doc said I would have been a Stage 1 again except that the cancer was in the bone which automatically pushed it right to Stage IV. Hope this helps.

Thanks Christine - This stuff is all so confusing! I am looking up words the Dr.'s write in reports in a medical dict. just to understand. When they talk with us it is put into words we can understand but I tend to forget the details after leaving the meeting.... So reading the reports tells the whole story I am finding. My sister tape recorded the "after surgery" talk and I am so glad she did as I didn't remember a lot of what he said. Was very helpful. We find out tomorrow if I have been worrying for nothing - hope so!

Always take a tape recorder with you to the appointments. Most doctors wont mind being recorded. I will keep you and Emmett in my prayers. Praying for good test results!

Christine, I was wondering when you said it was back in the jaw, what kinds of symptoms were you having? I get severe jaw pain on the same side of all of my problems, it comes on quickly and very painfully and is gone about as quick. It doubles me over most of the time. The docs are pooh poohing me and saying it may be tmj but the pain is no where near the joint it is in the front part of the jaw.