Coping with an exulcerated breast carcinoma: an interpretative phenomenological study.

OBJECTIVE

To explore how women living at home with a malignant fungating wound (MFW) cope with such wounds.

METHOD

To explore coping through the lived experiences of patients a methodological framework, using Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenology and semi-structured interviews. Nine patients were interviewed from January until November 2009.

RESULTS

The results are divided into two categories: 'living with a MFW' and 'feeling different'. These categories demonstrate how it is to live with the unpredictability, and uncontrollability of a MFW due to symptoms such as malodour, bleeding, exudate, pain and itching. The loss of control of the body boundary due to uncontrollable symptoms led to significant levels of distress and suffering for the patients. Different coping strategies were used to live with this wound.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates how difficult it is to live and cope with a malignant fungating wound. Coping strategies, including going into isolation, or denying any issues, were used. When taking care of patients with MFWs, strategies need to integrate a palliative, holistic, empathic approach.