T3N2B scc

That's a confusing one Paul as the staging is normally done on a TNM scale where (quoting from Cancer Research)..

TNM stands for Tumour, Node, Metastasis. This system describes the size of the initial cancer (the primary tumour), whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, and whether it has spread to a different part of the body (metastasised). The system uses letters and numbers to describe the cancer:

T refers to the size of the cancer and how far it has spread into nearby tissue – it can be 1, 2, 3 or 4, with 1 being small and 4 large
N refers to whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes – it can be between 0 (no lymph nodes containing cancer cells) and 3 (lots of lymph nodes containing cancer cells)
M refers to whether the cancer has spread to another part of the body – it can either be 0 (the cancer hasn't spread) or 1 (the cancer has spread).

So I'm not sure what the "B" indicates. Have a word with your team or the Macmillan helpline maybe? Unless someone else can shed some light.

Sorry can't be of more help.

Hi Mike 

That's great ta, thanks for taking the time to come back to me.

Not that it'll help but I like to know these things.

Stay well

Paul

I was in the, "don't need any details just make me better" camp myself Paul, I never asked for staging or survival chances or anything like that. Some people want detail and some want ignorance and some are in-between; each to their own, there's no right way to tackle this.

 Suppose the oncologist has to look at it from every angle,not to frighten people or cause alarm.but as my treatment progresses i.e dental work and letters received I feel I have the need now to find out what's going on.

Paul

Hi, this might not help but my husband was diagnosed in Nov 2014 as T3N2C SCC - I don't know what the first C means, but after chemo, radiotherapy and a neck dissection he is well and happy (5 years on). Sue x

As Mike says the T refers to Tumour size - T3 means tumour larger than 4 cm, but not invading other structures like bone and nerves. N2b refers to the number of lymph nodes involved - my tumour was “T2N2b” so I know that the N2b means more than 1 lymph node involved but no lymph node larger than 3 cm, and all on the same side of the neck. It is rather meaningless, but Doctors use it to give them an idea of the extent of disease. Ideally we’d all like to be T1NO - very small tumour and no  lymph nodes involved, but we don’t get to choose! I’m alive and well 28 months after finishing 7 weeks of chemoradio. 

Hilary

Thanks Hilary, it's like doctors writing. They're the only ones that understand it.  

Paul and virtual hugs 

As long as he's well they can call it what they want. Stay strong both of you

Paul

Oh and SCC is squamous cell carcinoma ( a cellular description of the cancer) 

N2B means that there are two lymph nodes with cancer in the same side as the primary tumour and that they are smaller than 6cm in size. 
As you say. Just info for the doctors.