"Cereus-validus......." wrote in message
. ..
You are alluding to the wrong species. Only the pads of Opuntia
ficus-indica are occasionally eaten. Most of the other species have pads
that are too spiny, too fibrous or unpleasant tasting.

Perhaps some neighborhood kids with leftover M-80s would like to try and
remove it? Sounds like a great science project for the fall...