This article provides an overview of tissue viability issues related to the care of patients with cancer who are approaching the end of life. Altered physiology as a result of various factors is identified, including nutrition, medication and radiotherapy. The article also discusses the presentation and treatment of cutaneous radiation injury, malignant wounds, pressure ulcers and Skin Changes At Life's End (SCALE – an acronym used to describe a set of clinical phenomena associated with changes to the skin of patients approaching the end of life), and makes recommendations for practice.
Nursing Standard. 31, 25, 54-61. doi: 10.7748/ns.2017.e10621
Correspondence Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Conflict of interestNone declared
Received: 25 July 2016
Accepted: 08 December 2016
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