AJCC Staging - MX

DebInTN

For some reason I went back & took a look at my surgical pathology report today.  Under AJCC staging it says MX. I looked that up and it appears to mean that the spread of the cancer was not evaluated. My question is - is that good or bad?  I assume that it's not bad because the doctors have not mentioned anything about it, but when I read 'minimum requirements to assess presence of distant metastases cannot be met'  I got a little anxious. 

ICanDoThis

What it means is that they didn't look for mets. No scans, etc.

Usually don't, for grade 1, stage 1.

In fact, many docs don't look for mets unless there are symptoms.

Beesie

Yup, many early stagers are MX, although we don't usually think if it that way because it's usually interpreted and treated as though it's M0.  But as Sue said, testing for mets often isn't done unless there are symptoms or a reasonable level of concern that there might be mets.  So don't worry about it - in a way it's a good sign that these tests weren't considered necessary because the likelihood is so low.  

DebInTN

OK, that makes sense - sort of.  I did have whole body bone scan which came back clear.  OK - back to not worrying and just taking care of business.  Thanks.

LizM

I think everyone who does not have mets has an MX diagnosis whether you have scans or not.  Some early stageers have scans and other don't, depending on your doctor.  You can still have microscopic cancer cells in your bloodstream that do not show up on scans.  MX is typically reflected on pathology reports because in the beginning they just don't know. 

eliz46

hi thank youfor asking the question. i to have mx on my report. my cancer was stage 2b with grade 1 t2 n1 mx  i am recoverying from a 1 side maseactomy. all is well. doc said he got everything with clean margins .....im just wondering whats next.   eliz

smallworld123

So glad that I found this thread. I also have mx. Had a mast. So glad you girls, know what it means.