Fungating Tumor

A fungating tumor (fungating wound) is a cancerous mass that grows through skin. It gets its name — “fungating” — from the way it looks. Like fungi you might find in the woods, these tumors come in all kinds of unique shapes. As the tumor breaks through skin, it creates a non-healing wound that drains fluid.

These tumors are an uncommon complication of cancer. About 5 to 10 out of every 100 people with cancer get them. Many are breast cancers. But fungating tumors can happen in other cancers that are close to skin. For example, they can happen in head and neck cancers and skin cancers like melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma.

Seeking care is important because treatments may be available to both treat the cancer and manage the wound.

Symptoms of a fungating tumor

Fungating wounds come in all shapes and sizes. Some have a cauliflower-like appearance. Some show up as an ulcer that’s shrunken into skin, like a crater. Other symptoms include:

• A bad-smelling fluid seeping from the wound
• Exposed white or yellowish tissue (“slough”)
• Bleeding
• Itching
• Pain

How doctors diagnose this condition

Your healthcare provider may suspect a fungating tumor based on how it looks. This is especially the case if you’ve already been diagnosed with cancer. But sometimes, these tumors are easy to mistake for infected wounds or abscesses.

It’s important that your provider diagnose it correctly. Fungating wounds need different care from infected tissue that can heal.

To be sure it’s a fungating wound, your provider may do imaging tests and a skin biopsy.

What stage is a fungating tumor?

Cancer staging helps healthcare providers know how far along you are in the disease course. Fungating tumors can happen as part of a locally advanced cancer, like breast cancer or certain skin cancers. Sometimes, it may be part of a cancer that’s spread (metastatic cancer).

How is it treated?

Treatment often involves a team lift. Your oncologist will treat the cancer based on your preferences. Getting treatment from wound care specialists is especially important.

Sometimes, the cancer is curable. Treatment focuses on managing the cancer and ensuring comfort through supportive measures to manage the wound. Depending on your situation, treatments may:

• Shrink the tumor: You may need cancer treatments that make the tumor small enough to remove with surgery. More often, shrinking makes it easier to manage.
• Remove the tumor: Seeking care with an experienced surgeon is important because removing these tumors is complex.
• Manage the wound: Shrinking the tumor makes it easier to care for the wound. Other things help, too, like antibiotics and dressings.

Wound care for fungating tumors

Your care team will let you know how to properly clean the wound. They’ll also recommend or apply treatments, which may include:

• Topical antibiotics: Rubbing antibiotic creams, like metronidazole, on the tumor can kill bacteria. This prevents infection and reduces odors.
• Oral antibiotics: You may need to take an antibiotic by mouth if you have an active infection. This medicine kills bacteria that have spread throughout your body.
• Dressings: Covering the wound with dressings helps absorb fluid and reduce odors. It can also hide the tumor if you’re feeling self-conscious about how it looks. Dressings are made of different things, like charcoal, honey, hydrogel, polyurethane and silver.

Your provider can explain the benefits of the type of dressing they’ve chosen to tend your wound.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

Most people with fungating tumors see their healthcare providers regularly. For example, your provider may visit you at home to help change your dressings. But let your provider know if your symptoms are getting worse. You may need pain medications. You may also need a different type of dressing or more frequent dressing changes.

How long is the life expectancy of someone with a fungating tumor?

Every person’s situation is unique, and many different cancer types can lead to fungating tumors. It’s best to meet with an oncology team to evaluate the situation and receive accurate information on life expectancy.

A combination of surgery, radiation or medical therapies can cure some fungating tumors.

Is there anything I can do to feel better?

A tumor that you (and others) can see can make the weight of a cancer diagnosis feel even heavier. You may feel as if your body is betraying you. It’s important to confront these emotions and care for your overall well-being.

You might benefit from talking to a therapist to manage the emotional impacts of the disease. It may also help to let your loved ones know how you’re feeling. For example, you may feel self-conscious if the tumor is in a highly visible place, like your face. Most people find that others are more than willing to provide reassurance that the tumor doesn’t make them any less lovable. Your caregivers can also recommend dressings to help hide the tumor.

Often, people with these tumors worry about the smell. If this is a concern for you, let your wound care provider know. They can recommend ways to mask any odors. Dressings and antibiotic ointments can help. Keeping odor neutralizers and essential oils in your room can also help. But don’t apply oils or any scented products directly on the wound.

What does a fungating tumor smell like?

The smell depends on the type of chemicals the bacteria in the wound release. The tumor may smell like bad cheese, eggs or fish. Some describe the odor as unpleasantly sweet.

The important thing to remember is that these odors aren’t a sign of bad hygiene or anything that you can control. Treatments that kill bacteria and dressings that absorb drainage can help mask these smells.