My 80-yr-old mom's gum cancer, which has extended into a 3-4cm lump at her jaw (like a ping-pong ball), punctured from outside two days ago. No blood but some fluid keeps coming out. She is on the way back from rural China now but refuses to go back to the hospital that she's been consulting in the past 10 months. The problem is she remains suspicious of being misdiagnoised because she thought that the incisional biopsy performed on her last time had led to deterioration and added pain.

Two weeks ago she consulted another professor who is an expert in oral cancer. Although the consultation is only a confirmation of her situation, so advanced a stage that nothing can be done anymore (only 10% successful rate for surgery while chemo is impossible). She then went to rural China and took some medicinal plant for 10 days. Strangely, the pain has totally gone after 5 doses, and the size of tumor began to shrink. However, as I said it got punctured two days ago but she insists not going back for fear of more test and biopsy. Her wishful thinking is that when the fluid is drained her tumor will be healed but I am really worried.

Can anyone tell me what happens when a tumor punctures?

It is unlikely that an actualy tumor would rupture. This is more likely to be a fistula that has begun to drain. She is mistaken if she believes that this indicates that a tumor which has been definitively diagnosed is getting better. These cancers are very unforgiving of delay in treatment. There are medicinal herbs which can reduce discomfort, but none that conventional medicine knows of that would provide a cure for a SCC. Obviously this is issue of being treated or not is hers to make. Whatever decisions she makes, we all wish her the best.

I agree with Brian, it sounds like a fistula to me.......Packer`s neck swells up and explodes on a regular basis.......Dee

Dear Dee,

So what happens when the swollen parts keep on exploding here and there? Can the wound heal or the hole will remain there and grow larger? Mother is now back in Hong Kong. Right now the doctor only ask her to have the community nurse change her dressing once a day. She is physically fit except for that wound. Thank God for sparing her from severe pain in the past two weeks. Pray that God's mercy be with her and all who are fighting or enduring the same plight.

Angela

hi, Angela, our plastic surgeon told us that alot of time there is nothing that can be done, you just have to live with them. the huge one Frank just had is totally closed up again, but then after a while his neck will swell again and we go through the same thing........sometimes they are infected and other times, is just blood and saliva. I`ve honestly lost count of the ones Frank has had. The last one I saw coming, got him on antibiotics, but it still opened and drained, but in a new spot...........If it`s a fistula, you sometimes you just have to deal. And, hopefully that is what your Mother has........Dee

Thanks Dee for sharing experience. The doctor said yesterday that it is natural progression of tumour and nothing can be done. The open wound now looks like a volcano crater of about 4cm diameter but not hurting very much. The doctor did not say it will close up. Mother complained that the community nurses changing her dressing are too enthusaistic in removing the demaged tissue, thus enlarging the hollow wound each time. She decided to handle it herself, just to clean it with 0.9% sodium cholride and then cover with dressing. In your experience, should gauze be stuck into the opening like some nurses do or not?
Thank God she is not feeling much pain now and no more bad smell from the mouth, probably because the cancer now focus on the jaw bone. She can eat well and remains physically strong. Not sure if this is fortunate or not, because that means the cancer may haunt her for "years" before battle ends. But mother is prepared to accept whatever fate and live on like normal with her faith in God.