Tumors do not “burst through the skin” explosively like a balloon. Instead, they can grow and extend to involve the skin, sometimes creating an open wound or a visible mass on the surface. This requires prompt medical attention.
How Tumors Affect Nearby Skin
Tumors, whether non-cancerous or cancerous, grow. As they expand, they exert pressure on surrounding tissues, including the skin. Cancerous tumors often involve local invasion, where cells directly extend into adjacent healthy tissues, weakening the skin’s structural integrity.
Tumor growth can also compromise the blood supply to nearby skin. As the tumor expands, it may block or damage small blood vessels, reducing oxygen and nutrient flow. This diminished supply can lead to tissue death, known as necrosis. Necrotic tissue becomes susceptible to breakdown, allowing the tumor to affect the skin’s surface.
When Tumors Break Through the Skin
When a tumor involves the skin, it typically manifests in one of two ways: ulceration or fungation. Ulceration occurs when the tumor outgrows its blood supply, leading to the death of skin and underlying tissue, forming an open wound.
Ulcerated tumors can cause bleeding, discharge, or pain, and may become infected. In contrast, fungation, or exophytic growth, describes a tumor that breaks through the skin and grows outwards. This outward growth often forms a visible, sometimes cauliflower-like or mushroom-shaped, mass. These fungating wounds can also be leaky and have an unpleasant odor.
Why Tumors May Involve the Skin
Several factors can contribute to a tumor growing to involve or break through the skin. The size and growth rate of a tumor play a significant role; larger and more rapidly growing tumors are more likely to exert substantial pressure on surrounding tissues and outgrow their own blood supply. This can lead to tissue necrosis and the eventual breakdown of the skin.
The tumor’s type and aggressiveness also influence skin involvement. Certain cancers, such as melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, breast, and head and neck cancers, are more frequently associated with breaking through the skin. A tumor’s location is another factor, as those close to the surface are more likely to affect it. Additionally, a compromised immune system can contribute to tumor progression and increase skin involvement, as a weakened immune response may be less effective at controlling abnormal cell growth.
When to Seek Medical Attention
It is important to seek medical evaluation for any new or changing skin lesion, lump, or wound, especially if it does not heal. Concerns should be raised if a skin lesion causes pain or discomfort, changes in size, shape, or color, or appears as an open wound that does not show signs of healing. A sore that bleeds, forms a crust, or develops a scab and persists for more than a few weeks warrants medical attention.
Early diagnosis is important for effective treatment of skin changes. Any spot on the skin that is different from others, or any lesion that evolves, such as by getting bigger, becoming itchy or tender, or bleeding, should be promptly assessed by a healthcare professional. Only a qualified medical provider can accurately determine the cause of such symptoms and recommend appropriate steps.