Advances in Skin, Wound Care and Tissue Science

Wound Care and Cancer

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Cancer is always the underlying cause of a fungating wound, which may also be called malignant wound. A fungating wound is when cancer that is growing under the skin breaks through the skin to create a wound. These wounds may be associated with pain, odor, exudate, bleeding, and an unsightly appearance. They may adversely affect self-esteem and body image, causing patients to isolate themselves at a time when social support is critically needed. Therefore treatments that reduce the tumor may also decrease the size of the wound and improve symptoms. The treatments that may be used will depend on the type of cancer, which part of the body is affected, and how advanced the tumor is. If a fungating wound does develop, it is most likely to happen with breast cancer, head and neck cancer and melanoma.