This topic is about a caregiver who is looking after his 93-year-old father, who has a large prolapsed stoma. The stoma was created years ago due to cancer, and the caregiver has noticed a thick, paste-like substance forming on it. The father does not experience any pain or irritation, and the hospice physician has advised leaving the substance alone without providing a diagnosis. The caregiver is concerned it might be a fungal growth and is seeking advice or solutions.

Here are some suggestions and insights that might help:

1. Consider asking the hospice physician for a more detailed explanation or a biopsy. If hospice is unable to assist, you might want to request an external consultation or ask for documentation of their clinical reasoning.

2. Take a photograph of the stoma and consider uploading it to reputable medical tele-consultation sites or specialist forums. This could help in identifying the substance with the help of experts.

3. Reach out to organizations like Age Concern in the UK or similar elder-care advocacy groups. They might provide guidance or refer you to specialists who are familiar with unusual geriatric skin or stoma conditions.

4. Keep in mind that rare growths, such as fungal infections or scar-tissue overgrowth, can occur in very elderly patients. Sometimes, clinicians prefer a conservative approach to avoid interventions that might cause harm.