Purpose of review: The role of palliative care interventions in patients with nonmetastatic disease is unclear. Locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) is such a diagnosis that presents a platform to examine the relationship of symptom management while patients are receiving treatment with curative intent.
Recent findings: Overwhelming physical and psychological symptoms can affect women with LABC. Fungating lesions at the time of primary presentation remain a major challenge. Treatments specifically for the treatment of fungating lesions using new dressings, topical analgesics, buccal opioids, and old techniques such as larval therapy were explored.
Summary: LABC is a complex biosocial disease that requires a collaborative interdisciplinary approach to care.