Stages

Stage III
I was Stage III SCC of the right tonsil with one lymph node involved, though the local ENT who removed my tumor didn't tell me what stage I was.
When I asked him what my chances were, he told me, sounding none too convincing, "50-50."
I wound up going to Johns Hopkins, where my new ENT told me (after getting a tissue sample from my tumor) that my cancer was caused by HPV. He told me that the five-year survival rate for cases like mine was roughly 90 percent, which was a great comfort for me as I went into treatment.
That was 15 months ago. I did have to have a modified radical neck dissection after my course of chemo and radiation, but I had a PET scan last month and I'm 100 percent cancer free thus far.
Good luck!

--Jim in Delaware

Staging/Prognosis
Mick,

I suggest trying not to get too caught up in the "numbers". A lot of what's on the internet is out-of-date or not applicable to your particular situation. A lot of what you "hear" is plainly incorrect. Nonetheless, like you, I asked. They said:

* Dr. Positive, the ENT...the clinical evidence is that you are a stage I and have an 85% prognosis.
* Dr. Moderate, the MO...stage IVA, conservatively a 50% probability of remission.
* Dr. Negative, the RO...stage III, this is not an exact science so I can't give you a percent but do know that we should throw everything we've got at it.

They agreed that the first shot is the best shot. Also, I asked a second MO, she said "nobody is 100% and nobody is 0%, let's have at it."

I wish you the best of health. Rich

micktissue said:

Rich
Thanks for that Rich. TO hear my Dr say I am "stage IV by definition" was hard, but I get what he's saying. Perhaps stage IV statistically is worse prognostically, but it doesn't mean the end. Unfortunately I do sometimes go to the end and I get very scared.

I will have surgery to remove the nodes in my neck and PET scans came back negative for any mets, so that's good. Hopefully the rads and chemo will kill any micro-mets that are likely traveling down the lymph chain. I'll keep everyone posted.

Thanks to everyone for being here - it does help.

Warmly,

Mick

stage IV
When I was told of my cancer it was in February 07. I can honestly say that I did not get a percentage given to me as far as survival rates when first diagnosed. Being a traveler of the construction trade I was making ready to trek to Alaska to begin a new season. I told the doctor same. He said I could go to work if I wanted to go. He did, however, say most emphatically that if I did go to work for six months that I would not complete the season for the cancer had progressed to far to be left untreated.

I had never seen my ENT doctor prior to my diagnosis. He took one look and gave me his opinion. Ominus though it was I am glad for the frank and candid treatment. I never looked for any percentage of recovery rate from my cancer while in treatment. All I know for sure is that I am here. Another thing that I know for sure is the fact that I am going to continue to blow away all the statistics and percentages or ... well you know what can happen. I will play my hand out to the end. Might as well it is the only one I was dealt.

I have a CT/Pet scan scheduled for Tuesday the 12th of January, 2010. Hopefully I am still cancer free at the end of three years and going into the fourth year.

Stages
Good Morning,

My husband was stage IV, and when you first hear that it sounds like you have no hope but let me tell you cancer can be beat! Stay positive and do not allow evil to enter your thoughts and emotions. You WILL survive this! Peace be with you. Donna

SASH said:

Stage T4N0
I was dx stage IV with no metastasis. I asked about rads only for treatment before surgery and told 40% survival, with chemo about 75%. Also told 85% chance of coming back in the first 2 years. That was Sept of 1999. I have been NED since May 1, 2000, which was the date of my surgery where they were going to cut out 85-90% of my tongue but only found scar tissue and dead cancer cells.

That is so great, Sash!!

That is so great, Sash!!