Wound Care Certified Certification (WCC) Practice Exam

What types of cancers are MOST often sites of extension for fungating malignant wounds?

1. Colon and lung

2. Oral and breast

3. Prostate and skin

4. Stomach and pancreas

The correct answer is: Oral and breast

The selected response highlights that oral and breast cancers are most often associated with fungating malignant wounds. These types of cancers frequently lead to soft tissue lesions that can ulcerate and become fungating due to the aggressive nature of the malignancies involved. Fungating wounds, which are characterized by the growth of cancerous tissue and a tendency to necrose and drain, often occur in regions of the body where there is an abundant supply of soft tissue, such as the breast and oral cavity. In the case of breast cancer, the tumor can invade surrounding tissues, leading to the formation of these complex wounds. Similarly, oral cancers can result from epithelial malignancies that disrupt normal anatomy, causing significant local tissue destruction and leading to a similar wound profile. Understanding the distinction in site incidence is crucial for clinicians, as different cancers may present with unique wound characteristics, treatment challenges, and considerations for palliative care.