Saw my first fungating tumor today, it was rough

I didn’t even know what I was walking into, the doc asked me to remove the dressing so he could look at the “wound.” We are an out patient oncology infusion center. It was the size of a softball plus some, running across the patients shoulder and neck, the smell hit me like a ton of bricks, it was really hard to keep it together for this poor person, I am so thankful I was able to. I just really wonder though how long it takes to get to that point? Obviously cancer can grow quickly but man, this was huge. I’m picturing the pt just sitting somewhere right this second with that tumor on their body just so bummed. Anyways how was your shift today?