This is probably a stupid question at this point it is too late anyway but it is on my mind. I have been reading so much about nodes being removed to be checked for cancer. When my husband was diagnosed they said he had a T4 base of tongue with no node involvement. I remember the ENT feeling his neck for nodes but how do they know that for sure without removing them and checking. If it was early they wouldn't feel anything. Why do they check some and not others. I remember the RO saying it was very rare for T4 not to have nodes involved. Can anyone answer this...