title: A chemical hemostatic technique for bleeding from malignant wounds.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer, skin cancer, and head and neck cancer often develops a hemorrhagic malignant wound. Bleeding from the tumor impairs patients' quality of life and can be life threatening, while surgical or electrical hemostasis is often unsuccessful because of the tumor's friability.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a chemical hemostatic treatment for breast cancer hemorrhage with zinc chloride paste (Mohs' paste), which is usually applied as a fixative in micrographic surgery for cutaneous neoplasms. Five patients with bleeding from breast cancer under various circumstances were treated with this technique in 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The method was successful on first application for all five patients, and hemostasis was maintained long term.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This simple technique is effective for bleeding from malignant wounds and should be learned by health professionals performing cancer care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Ohtsuka Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. m-kakimot-o@ohtsuka-hospital.toshima.tokyo.jp
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kakimoto
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tokita
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshino
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006487:Hemostasis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D009824:Ointments / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D009067:Mouthwashes; D009824:Ointments; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C016837:zinc chloride