Fungating tumors are rare but can occur in breast and skin cancers.
They may also develop due to specific radiation treatments.
If you have an ulcerating wound, talk with a healthcare provider to get a clear diagnosis.
FG Trade / Getty Images
FG Trade / Getty Images
Fungating tumors are relatively rare.
Its a patch of skin that is dying because it no longer gets the nutrients it needs.
Often, a tumor has blocked the blood vessels supplying oxygen to the area.
The ulcer looks like an open wound.
It may bleed, weep, or crust over.
It may develop a growth shaped like a fungus, mushroom, or cauliflower.
Antibiotic or pain-relieving ointment may also help.
Barrier creams can save healthy skin from damage from bandages or adhesives.
These days, wound dressings are not limited to big adhesive bandages.
Your care team can tell you which dressings to use based on the size and location of your wound.
They may have you come back in for dressing changes or have you change the dressings at home.
A home-care nurse may also be able to help with dressing changes.
Specialized dressings can be expensive, especially if dressing changes are needed often.
Strategies for stopping bleeding include:
If the bleeding doesnt stop, see your healthcare provider.
Physical Coping Strategies
Even with the best wound care, ulcerating wounds can be very uncomfortable.
They may be painful, have a foul odor, or weep a lot of fluid.
They may grow many times larger than normal, causing asymmetry.
There are several options to manage many of these issues.
Antibiotics can also help.
If changing the dressings is painful, ask your healthcare provider about painkiller options.
Mental Health
A fungating wound is a visible and sometimes painful reminder of cancer.
A large wound that doesnt heal, smells foul, or leaks can be distressing.
Fungating or ulcerating tumors can be tougher on your mental health than advanced cancer on its own.
Being unable to fix or heal the wound can be traumaticas if you have lost control of your body.
People with fungating wounds may feel embarrassment, shame, anger, anxiety, or guilt.
Clinical depression is common in these people.
It can be even worse if the wound is visible to others.
You may start to avoid social situations or become withdrawn.
Let them process their feelings by talking about them and expressing their emotions instead of rushing into problem-solving.
Talk to your treatment team about discussing your feelings with a mental health professional.
Your healthcare providers can help you process these changes in your body.
Engage your loved one in conversation or turn on the TV.
Be mindful that seeing or smelling the wound may be distressing to them.
Changing your dressings frequently can damage the healthy skin around the tumor.
You may find that barrier products help protect the skin.
These can be sprayed or painted on surrounding healthy skin to keep the bandages from damaging it.
These must be changed weekly but can protect the skin without further damaging it.
you’re free to decrease the number of changes needed by using a bandage that can absorb liquid.
Primary and Secondary Formation
Fungating tumors can be either primary or secondary.
Primary ulcerating wounds develop from the first tumor that becomes cancer.
These are most commonly seen in skin cancers but can also develop in other cancers.
Secondary fungating breast cancer spreads to the breast once the tumor becomes malignant.
Summary
Fungating breast cancer is when a tumor breaks through the skin.
Healthcare providers and wound-care nurses treat fungating breast cancers in many ways.
But the most essential treatment is quality wound care.
Fungating wounds are often associated with locally advanced cancer that is very large or has spread within the chest.
Often they are due to cancers that are not surgically removable or that are not being adequately treated.
Your body may not feel like your own, and you may feel anxious or depressed about your illness.
Ask about talking to a mental health expert to deal with the feelings the wound brings up.
A fungating tumor doesn’t always mean a dire prognosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be hard to fully heal a fungating wound.
These are also useful during dressing changes if you find the smell of the wound distressing.
Specialists that treat fungating breast cancer include a:
National Cancer Institute.Definition of fungating lesion.
Cancer Research UK.About ulcerating cancers (fungating tumours).
Rupert KL, Fehl AJ.A patient-centered approach for the treatment of fungating breast wounds.J Adv Pract Oncol.
2022;6(1):2473974X211073306.
doi:10.1177/2473974X211073306
Macmillian Cancer Support.Ulcerating cancer wounds.
Cancer Research UK.Looking after ulcerating tumours.
American Cancer Society.When someone you know has cancer.
Breast Cancer Now.Secondary (metastatic) breast cancer in the skin.
2018;24(1):41-50. doi:10.1111/tbj.12830
