Cat with possible face cancer?

My 10 year old boy had a small hard bump 3 weeks ago, a little above between his eyes. It swelled the last two weeks, and I had assumed he had gotten into a scuffle with a housemate. Over the weekend his eye swelled up badly.. Suddently. To the point of being swollen shut. I made the first appointment available which was for tonight. I was reading another thread and was moved to start one to see if anyone had some suggestions.
The vet, whom Ive gone to for 20 years tends to give his honest opinion and does not rack up the costs, so he will tell me outright if something should be persued or not. Looking at my guy, it started off as an abcess, but after examining it and trying to aspirate it to relieve the pressure and swelling, he tried 6 times in four different positions and could not get anything drawn at all. It did not even bleed even slightly from any of those pokes. Thats when he said it is an aggressive cancer. He began with saying we can do xrays to see, but from how badly his face is getting deformed he believes the bones have been eaten away or that there is some hard tissue over the tumor. He recommended euthing right then and there... Despite that he is eating, purring, playing, and has no changes. He is a hefty muscular cat and a little over ten pounds. When i asked why now, he said that it will get very bad.. Do it now so that the cat never knows suffering. I understand and respect that, but this cat is absolutely normal.. Asking how long I can expect to have him, he couldnt estimate, only saying he will get even worsely deformed and be in a lot of pain. He also said he is probably in a lot of pain right now but not showing it because they have a high tolerance. I kept trying to get a specific answer on what kind of cancer this is, because strangely enough I had a cat years ago with this same thing and they were not related in any way. Does anyone know what kind of cancer could disfigure the upper part of their face? It is by the bridge of the nose/between the eye area.
Also, the vet checked his mouth and said he had bad teeth on that side, but that it is "secondary" and not related. Part of me is so sad about the cancer part, but theres a part of me wanting to believe maybe it really is the teeth issue.
Obviously I did not euth. He is on my feet as I type this, which is his favorite place to be. On top of all this, I am moving to a new house two hours away beginning this weekend and then the rest the weekend following. Can anyone relate or give suggestions? I was sent home with prednisone and he was given an anti inflammatory shot. View media item 340143View media item 340144

I have absolutely no experience with something like this so I really can't offer any advice.  I am so sorry.

This is something out of left field and I am sure your vet thought of it but this reminds me of something that I seen on an animal planet show about a vet ER that used to be on.  Her kitty had an issue with a blocked sinus and he had a huge swelling between his eyes and they removed the sinus.  Her kitty was obviously in pain though.

It's one thing to not run up a huge bill on diagnostics. It's another to tell you to euthanize without even an x-ray. Diagnostics aren't just for the pet so to speak. They are a reliable way for a pet owner to understand what is going on and making a good decision for the pet and themselves.

The veterinarian may be correct. Can you euthanize not knowing or worse finding out later this was something treatable.

Sometimes a second opinion is priceless.

I did point the OP to the Hospice thread, which is growing and providing comfort to several people now, as well as making the OP of that thread glad to be able to help.  She shared on there as well.

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/316100/...ill-loved-one-i-share-with-you-simons-journey