If it has spread to our nodes it's the number of nodes that matters. I mean this when it comes to determining staging. It goes by size and number of nodes involved. It's a small size, but if there is more than one node involved then that would make you a stage three. I am not sure where you live or where you are being treated but your drs approach seems rather cavalier. I would make sure that he or she is very experienced at dealing with oral cancer, and very good at what they do. I say this because based on what you are saying - small sized primary cancer - but nodal involvement - indicates it might be an aggressive cancer. If this is the case more is better than not enough in terms of treatment. Do I think he is sugar coating? I don't know, it could be that - maybe he trying to minimize your fear by saying what he has, however more concerning would be the possibility that he's not overly experienced with this cancer and believes (un realistically) that he can simply cut it out. This is a recipe for disaster.

This cancer can be crazy aggressive, I've seen people with a T1 cancer die from it and a stage 3 or 4 survive. These results are based on a variety of things - individual health/lifestyle/age, genetics, aggressiveness of the cancer and medical care (how they have been treated, and by whom)

If I were you I would go to a cancer facility - and see a top ENT who deals primarily with oral cancer. This will give you the best chance at getting through this. Hugs and welcome... And so sorry you have to be here. Hugs