‘I feel like a monster’: California hermit, 33, hid for more than a decade after a tumor the size of a cantaloupe grew on his head and smelled so bad it made people faint
A California man has revealed how he lived ‘like a monster’ for more than a decade after a tumor the size of a melon grew from the back of his head.
Arlin, from Murrieta, California, withdrew from the world as a teenager, dropped out of class and cut ties with friends when he was bullied in high school.
The now 33-year-old became extremely self-conscious when the lump started leaking blood and pus and gave off an odor so foul that one of his nurses almost fainted.
Although he hid for more than a decade and looked for a doctor to remove the tumor, his lack of insurance and multiple surgeons saying they couldn’t help him only made him more depressed.
Arlin, 33, from California, had a growth on the back of his head for more than a decade
He said he saw 15 doctors, but none could remove the mass
Dr. Osborne said he noticed a change in Arlin’s behavior since the growth was removed β he made more eye contact, smiled more and made healthier choices
But Arlin got a second chance at a normal life when he met Dr. Ryan Osborne, a head and neck surgeon.
Arlin said on this week’s episode of TLC’s Take my tumor: ‘It’s very difficult for me to have this bump on my head. I feel like a monster.’
Arlin and his mother said they visited 10 to 15 doctors about the growth, but each said they couldn’t remove it because of its size and anatomy and referred him to other specialists, but the family couldn’t afford any treatment.
His mother, Jaqueline, said: ‘It’s not that we wanted it to get that big, but we couldn’t get the help we needed so it grew.
βIt’s hard to see someone you love in pain or what he or she is going through. He could die. What’s at stake now is his life.’
Arlin suffered from a condition called hidradenitis suppurativa, a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes lesions, drainage, odor, pain, abscesses and scarring.
The National Institutes of Health said the side effects of the condition go beyond the physical: “Because of associated pain, tender sites, drainage, odor, and scarring, this condition can have a negative psychosocial impact.”
Arlin suffered from a condition called hidradenitis suppurativa, a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes lesions, drainage, odor, pain, abscesses and scarring
Dr. Ryan Osborne performed surgery to remove the mass from Arlin’s neck, which he said could have caused permanent damage to the spine due to its position
Arlin’s growth continually leaked fluid, pus and blood, forcing him to wear towels around his neck so it wouldn’t get on his shirt. He also almost always wore hats to hide the tumor.
And his mother said she had to put candles all over the house because the growth smelled so strong.
The exact cause of hidradenitis suppurativa is not known, but it may be due to genetics, the environment a person is in, or lifestyle habits.
The lesions develop due to inflammation and infection of the sweat glands, and Arlin’s condition is further complicated by his anhidrosis, a rare condition that prevents sweat glands from producing sweat.
About one to four percent of Americans have hidradenitis suppurativa, also called acne inversus, but experts say this number is likely underestimated.
Dr. Osborne said the condition is poorly understood but is often treated by dermatologists. Treatment may include antibiotics, creams and ointments, steroids, and removal.
Dr. However, Osborne said: ‘Arlin’s case has more or less spiraled out of control and as a result he has had breaks in the skin and they have become infected. It’s a bit of a hygienic mess.’
Arlin’s first skin graft was unsuccessful and he was left with gaping wounds
While the California-based surgeon said he was able to remove Arlin’s mass, he was concerned about Arlin’s anemia β a condition that occurs when the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells β which meant he could have delivered a dangerous amount of blood to lose.
Because of this, Arlin had to undergo a blood transfusion prior to the procedure and Dr. Osborne said there was little “wiggle room” for blood loss.
On the morning of the surgery, Arlin said, βIt’s a huge relief to hear him say he can remove it. I have more confidence that everything will go well.
‘I can’t wait until this is finally removed. The fact that it has finally been removed today is a great relief to me.’
His brother added: ‘He has lost a lot of himself and a lot of years because of this. To say this is a life-changing operation is an understatement.β
Because Arlin’s tumor was so large, Dr. Osborne had to take skin from his abdomen to create a skin graft, which involves removing healthy skin from one part of the body and attaching it to another part.
Although there were no complications during the operation, a nurse in the operating room became so faint that she almost lost consciousness due to the putrid odor that Arlin’s tumor gave off.
The operation was ultimately a success and a second skin graft seemed to work. Now that the crowd is gone, Arlin said he had more energy, less pain and less depression.
He said he was excited to go back to school and get a job, adding, βSurgery has changed my life tremendously. It’s a huge relief.’
Take my tumor airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on TLC.