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Symptoms associated with malignant wounds: a prospective case series
Vincent Maida1, Marguerite Ennis, Craig Kuziemsky
1Division of Palliative Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto. vincent.maida@utoronto.ca
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
|July 16, 2008
Summary
Malignant wounds in cancer patients cause significant symptoms like pain and distress. Palliative care is crucial for managing these challenging, non-healing wounds and improving patient quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Palliative Care
- Wound Management
Background:
- Malignant wounds affect a notable percentage of cancer patients.
- These wounds are typically non-healable and require palliative management.
- Palliative wound care focuses on symptom and pain control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify common symptoms and anatomical locations of malignant wounds.
- To assess the symptomatic burden associated with malignant wounds.
- To inform clinical assessment and symptom management strategies.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, sequential case series of palliative medicine consultations.
- Analysis of 67 cancer patients with malignant wounds.
- Data collection on patient-reported wound-related symptoms.
Main Results:
- Over 67% of malignant wounds presented with at least one of eight key symptoms.
- Pain (31.3%) and mass effect (23.9%) were the most prevalent symptoms.
- Breast cancer patients had the highest prevalence (47.1%), with wounds often on the anterior chest wall.
Conclusions:
- Malignant wounds impose a substantial symptomatic burden on cancer patients.
- Thorough clinical assessment and symptom evaluation are essential.
- Further research is needed to optimize pain and symptom management for these wounds.
