I think when they say 'distant' they mean it has metastasized to the lungs, bones, or other places besides the oral cavity and neck. If it spreads to lymph nodes in the neck, that falls under the N part of TNM staging.
Tracy - 33 at diagnosis
SCC right ventral tongue Dx 4/11.
T1N2M0
1st resection 5/11.
Bilateral neck dissection: 2 pos nodes
2nd resection w/graft 6/11.
Erbitux x 11 completed 9/11. IMRT x 30 completed 8/11.
3 month MRI and PET/CT all clear.
6, 9, 12 and 24 month post treatment MRIs all clear.
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