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The TNM System is a standard system for describing the extent of a cancer's growth. This system was developed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and is the most common system used to stage anal cancer. Here's what the letters stand for in the TNM System.
T (tumor) refers to the size of the original tumor and whether or not it has invaded nearby organs.
N (node) refers to whether the lymph nodes in the area of the original tumor have become cancerous.
M (metastasis) refers to whether the cancer has spread to other, distant organs in the body, such as your bones, liver, or lungs.