What do these stage numbers mean?

Stage numbers are to do with the size of the tumour stage 1 being the smallest
Robins tumour is T1 N2 M0 T=Tumour N=Nodes M=Metasteses
so Rob had a stage 1 tumour in his tongue measuring less than 1 cm
A Stage 2 lymph node that was 3-4 cm (ended up 6cm by the time he had surgery)
and no metasteses found any where else on body scan.
The only anomaly was Robs lymph node turned out to be a full blown secondary tumour on the opposite side to the primary in his tongue.This is my understanding of staging ,and i am sure someone will correct me if i am wrong.

Dr. joshi describes it in detail here

Phew!!

I think I understand, in that case then in cannot just be a stage 4 which makes sense because in is not in just one location so is must be a stage 4 XXX ?

Angie