What are fungating tumours (ulcerating cancers)?

Fungating tumours are also known as ulcerating cancers, fungating wounds, malignant wounds or ulcerating cancer wounds. 

A fungating tumour is when a tumour that is growing under the skin breaks through the skin's surface and creates a wound. Fungating describes what the cancer might look like. They can grow in the shape of a fungus or cauliflower.

As the cancer grows, it blocks and damages small blood vessels. This reduces the oxygen supply to the area. So the skin and tissue underneath dies (necrosis). The wound can become ulcerated and infected. It can also have a bad smell. 

Who might get a fungating tumour?

Fungating tumours are rare. If they do develop they are more likely to happen with a skin cancer such as melanoma, breast cancer or head and neck cancer. This is because these cancers can occur close to the skin. 

Fungating tumours can start in 2 different ways. They can grow from a:

• primary tumour (where a cancer started)
• secondary tumour (cancer that's spread to another part of the body)

Fungating tumours from the primary cancer

The primary cancer is the place where a cancer starts growing.

A fungating tumour can develop in untreated cancer. Sometimes people are so frightened about what a doctor could tell them that they don't go to the doctor. This might even be when they have symptoms of cancer, for example, a lump in their breast.

A cancer that’s left untreated for many months or years can grow upwards and into the skin. It can then break through the skin and cause an open sore (or ulcer) on the skin surface.

Fungating tumours from secondary cancers

A secondary cancer is cancer that has spread from a primary site to other parts of the body.

Cancer that spreads to the blood and lymphatic system can travel to the skin. It can develop into a fungating tumour, but this is rare.

Always attend follow up appointments after your treatment has finished. This way your doctor can pick up any early signs of problems.

Contact your doctor between follow up appointments if you are worried. You should especially do so if you have any new symptoms, such as unexplained skin lumps or sores.

How it might affect you

For some people, a fungating tumour is the most upsetting aspect of their cancer.

How the wound affects you will depend on where it is on your body. It can affect how you feel about yourself if it’s very visible, such as on your face.

A wound near a joint or armpit can affect how you move. It might also be painful or itchy.

A wound on or near the genitals or breasts might make you feel embarrassed. It can be particularly hard when a doctor or nurse is examining or treating you.

Fungating tumours can also smell unpleasant or leak. This can be very distressing.

A few people find having a fungating tumour so distressing that they deny it's there. They feel the best way to deal with it is to ignore it. Sometimes people leave their wound so long that by the time they do see a doctor, it is more difficult to control.

But it’s possible to manage the symptoms of fungating tumours so that they are easier to live with.

See your doctor as soon as you notice any signs of a fungating tumour.

How you feel about yourself and others

When you have a fungating tumour it might affect how you feel about yourself. Also, how you feel about being with other people.

You might feel that you have lost control over your body. This can, in turn, make you feel vulnerable.

Your outward appearance can play a big part in how you feel about social situations. You might be worried and embarrassed about other people noticing your wound. This could stop you wanting to go out or see people and can affect your quality of life.

Applying surgical dressings to your wound might help you to cope better. They can make wearing clothes more comfortable. By covering your wound it might also reduce any smell.

Treatment

Some types of cancer treatment can help to shrink fungating tumours. But they can be very hard to get rid of completely. So treatment aims to control the symptoms.