Abstract
A fungating wound is a malignant lesion that infiltrates the skin and its supporting blood and lymph vessels. They tend to develop in the last few months of a patient's life, and often impair psychosocial well-being. Fungating wounds present unique challenges for WOC nursing management, including prevention or management of bleeding and control of exudate and odor. Our knowledge of the epidemiology, etiology, assessment, and management of these lesions is limited. This article provides an overview of the epidemiology of fungating wounds, their assessment and options for management, focusing on local wound management, control of associated symptoms, and psychosocial support for patient and family.