Hi Shane

I cannot answer your questions about survival but a well differentiated tumour is better than moderately or poorly differentiated as it represents a better outcome.

The pus you describe suggests an infection and you should make sure you tell the doctor about it. Today is Sunday so your appointment tomorrow should be soon enough.

The best thing you can do for your mother is to educate yourself and be her advocate by asking lots of questions (here on the forum and of the doctors). Is there a nurse who specialises in Head and Neck Cancer that you can talk to? They are often great resources and are more accessible than the doctor. They will also help you in managing side effects.

If your Mum uses tobacco (smokes or chews) the best thing she can do for herself is to stop immediately.

Finally, please add a signature by going to "My Stuff" at the top of the page when you are logged on and click on "Edit Profile" in the drop down box. Scroll to the bottom and you will find a box to enter the details of your Mum's illness. This will help us answer your questions. Read a few other signatures to get the idea. Age, date of diagnosis and various treatments are all helpful as well as the diagnosis your doctor has given you. There are lots of abbreviations that you can look up in the Frequently Asked Questions section.