Hopefully this helps but the lesion in her face will not HEAL if its still active cancer. How large is it? It could definitely be irritated by the Erbitux rash but of its large I doubt it's part of the rash and irritation. As far as I know Erbitux works by binding itself to the cancer cells and preventing it from growing or spreading, but there are several factors here. Firstly it doesn't work on everyone, secondly from what I have heard it is more effective when given in conjunction with cisplatin, thirdly it inhibits the cell growth and tumor grown, but from what I have read it doesn't kill it - from this you can gather that it is an sensitizing agent for radiation - now radiation works for a certain amount for time after the actual therapy has finished but I was told by my oncologist that there is no point in giving chemo after radiation has stopped - with this type of cancer - since the two work hand in hand - radiation can kill oral cancer, but chemo on its own can't. Finally, I believe Paul mentioned that there are oral chemos you can take after chemo radiation to help prevent a recurrence, but I believe that these would only work, assuming the cancer is actually gone, and not still visible at the site. As far I can gather from what you have told us - the cancer is still there and at some point will start growing again, assuming its not already. Therefore whatever chemo they have planned - unless its palliative - will not have a curative effect.

Did they do a ct or MRI to compare the tumors size? So they can tell you if it was Effected by the treatment at all? That would be a good indicator of prognosis...

Hugs