Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2022 Feb 25;14(5):1203.
doi: 10.3390/cancers14051203.

Treatment Algorithm for Cancerous Wounds: A Systematic Review

Affiliations
Review

Treatment Algorithm for Cancerous Wounds: A Systematic Review

Andrea Furka et al. Cancers (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: In advanced cancer stage the incidence of cancerous wounds is about 5%, and the estimated life expectancy is not more than 6 to 12 months. Without interdisciplinary and individualized treatment strategy, symptoms progress, and adversely influence quality of life.

Methods: Authors collected different treatment algorithms for cancerous wound published by wide scale of medical expertise, and summarized surgical, oncological, radiation oncological, nursing and palliative care aspects based on radiological information.

Results: Interdisciplinary approach with continuous consultation between various specialists can solve or ease the hopeless cases.

Conclusions: This distressing condition needs a comprehensive treatment solution to alleviate severe symptoms. Non-healing fungating wounds without effective therapy are severe socio-economic burden for all participants, including patients, caregivers, and health services. In this paper authors collected recommendations for further guideline that is essential in the near future.

Keywords: cancerous wound; multimodal aspects; oncology; palliative care; radiotherapy; surgery; treatment algorithm.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Key terms and searching strategy flow diagram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Multidisciplinary view of cancerous wounds treatment.

References

    1. Mortimer P. Skin problems in palliative care: Medical aspects. In: Doyle D., Hanks G., Macdonald N., editors. Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine. 3rd ed. Oxford Medical Publications; Oxford, UK: 1993. pp. 384–395.
    1. Grocott P. The palliative management of fungating malignant wounds. J. Wound Care. 1995;4:240–242. doi: 10.12968/jowc.1995.4.5.240. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Tilley C., Lipson J., Ramos M. Palliative Wound Care for Malignant Fungating Wounds: Holistic Considerations at End-of-Life. Nurs. Clin. N. Am. 2016;51:513–531. doi: 10.1016/j.cnur.2016.05.006. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Lo S.F., Hu W.Y., Hayter M., Chang S.C., Hsu M.Y., Wu L.Y. Experiences of living with a malignant fungating wound: A qualitative study. J. Clin. Nurs. 2008;17:2699–2708. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2008.02482.x. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Tsichlakidou A., Govina O., Vasilopoulos G., Kavga A., Vastardi M., Kalemikerakis I. Intervention for symptom management in patients with malignant fungating wounds—A systematic review. J. Balk. Union Oncol. 2019;24:1301–1308. - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources