Hi, I am new here. My mum was diagnosed with oral cancer stage 1 in her cheek lining (right side) back in January 2009. She is over at UCSF and was scheduled for surgery as soon as the could fit her in, which was 6 weeks later. They removed the cancer from the cheek, 20 lymph nodes and a small section of her jaw.
One of the lymph nodes contained cancer, the rest did not. Besides that the doctor said he would have prefered that the margins were wider on her test results. Radiation is an option, but the tumor board did not advise it based on her results. I am so worried and confused and in desperate need to find some answers. My main question what is the likelihood as the cancer spread to one lymph node that it could spread to somewhere else in the body?
Thanks for your help.
Nina
Nina
Good question,[quote]I am so worried and confused and in desperate need to find some answers. My main question what is the likelihood as the cancer spread to one lymph node that it could spread to somewhere else in the body?[/quote] but no good answer. Statistics never tell the story nor can they be applied to any one individual
You need to strong for you Mum and worrying won't help either of you. My GUESS (based on Stage 1, tumor board no on radiation, only 1 out of 20 nodes with Cancer) is that the likelihood is low. Read my signature line to see how aggressive my cancer was/is and it has not "spread elsewhere"
No guarantees, just HOPE and FAITH.
It never hurts to get their opinion reviewed by a new set of eyes.
That said, radiation is the ultimate weapon in the arsenal to kill this cancer and it causes the most far lasting, even permanent, life altering adverse side effects. Being able to use it twice is also very limited so some evaluations lead to the recommendation to hold off and see if the initial Tx was sufficient to kill the cancer.
Unfortunately there are no guarantees with this cancer as we have seen it all on this site.
[quote=ninakelly] My mum was diagnosed with oral cancer stage 1 in her cheek lining ...
One of the lymph nodes contained cancer
Nina [/quote]
Once the cancer had spread to a lymph node isn't it considered at least stage 3?
Probably staged before they found the positive node. As far as I know, with the exception of the Nasopharynx region, any nodal involvement is staged at least a 3.
I would suggest getting a second opinion if you haven't already done so.
I'm debating over radiation and nothing was in my lymph nodes, in fact, they got clean margins but due to the depth of the tumor, the doctors are on the fence and so am I. My cancer was in the lower left tongue so while not in the same place as your mother, I would still get some other opinons if a node was positive.
David staging is decided by the size of the tumour i think not the nodal involvement.Robin was T1N2cM0 and was staged at 1 because the primary tumour was just 1cm .His secondary tumour however was 5cm. I am sure i will be corrected if i am wrong but that was my understanding of how it works.
Partovis sitting on the fence is NOT an option with this cancer you will likely get splinters in your ass,so jump down off get another opinion.
liz
Liz,
My RO gave me a book they use with patients (and plenty of colored glossy pictures) entitled Oncology Counseling Folder - Head and Neck. In this book is a Staging Guide chart for all regions of the Head and Neck and their respective Staging Guides 0 thru IVC with a corresponding table showing each Stages' T, N, M values. None of theses charts show nodal involvement being staged less than III. You can be staged a III without nodal involvement but that was not the question I thought I was answering.
Hi David
i thought the statement was if nodes are involved it has to be at least a stage three lol.i just know that Robs doctors staged him a 1 even though he had a large node.I am sure no expert so i will concede to the "old timers"superior wisdom lol
love liz
Ok let me rephrase this...in this book in any region of the H & N if there is nodal involvement the minimum Stage is a III (with the sole exception of the Nasopharnyx region where it is IIB) regardless of what the T or M is. No where is nodal involvement ever a Stage I.
Maybe there's a different book across the pond?
I found this very helpful site called OCF; check out what OCF has to say about staging and lymph nodes, right here under our noses, so to speak:
http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/facts/stages_cancer.htm
Liz and David,
http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/facts/stages_cancer.htm Pop quiz tomorrow!
Whoops! Pete beat me to it!
Hi Nina,
Welcome to OCF. As you can see, you will always get answers to the questions you ask and then some!! No doubt good information.
That said, I would highly suggest getting a second opinion. Have you done that yet?
Well David now we know.shame on us lol.
I first read that page more than 2 years ago and it hasn't changed that i can see.Perhaps i should cut and paste it and send it to Robs doctors for future reference,although i can see why they staged him as 1,because his primary was 1cm and his secondary was not in a recognised area of spread being on the opposite side and even post dissection and pathology ,they couldn't find out how it had got there as all 67 lymph glands but the affected node they removed were clear of any cancer.
U 2 have me rollin. Not like a ball tho. More like a lopsided toad.. That's not a pretty site.LOL
Liz,
Thanks, as I assume that was some term of endearment.
Thanks for your input. I did find out after speaking directly with one of the doctors that it is stage III only as it was in one lymph node. Fortunately it was in the center of the lymph node and was very small. It had not gone anywhere else. The doctor, head surgeon and oncologist doctor at UCSF don't feel radiation is advisable, although it is an option for my mum if she chooses to pursue it. They feel it is likely that the cancer was contained and then removed. After speaking with the doctor, I feel much better. Thanks again for your advice.
Stage III, humm one of our very smart posters said that....lol
One of our very smart posters with a head so big even my elephant couldn't bounce off it lol