Bill- I know it is confusing, but I have a degree in anatomy/physiology so my husband has been lucky as I speak "doctor". T3 means the tumor is >4cm and N1 means a met to 1 node on the same side as the tumor. MX=distant met cannot be assessed (meaning they are guessing); M0=no distant mets;M1=distant mets. Stage IV is divided into A=T4aN0M0/T4aN1M0/T1N2M0/T2N2M0/T3N2M0/T4aN2M0; B=anyTN3M0/T4banyNM0; and C=anyTanyNM1. So, as confusing as it sounds (and the doctors WANT it to be confusing) you would not seem to be in Stage IV. Please get the doctor to clarify anything you don't understand and look up all the medical terms. And keep fighting - my husband has had 5 recurrences but has been around since intial Dx for 21 years! Take good care of yourself.
Jennifer
1st CA 1987- 5 recurrences. partial glossectomy/jaw resection. chemo. so many CAT/MRI I glow in the dark. left side neck radical dissection. teeth all removed. PEG/skin grafts to floor of mouth. insulin dependent brittle diabetic., hearing loss, aortic aneurysm.
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