Cancer wound of the face from an interdisciplinary perspective

Introduction
Malignant neoplasms developing in the region of the head cause destruction of face skin and tissue structures that are responsible for facial expressions, verbal articulation and food intake. The visual/esthetic effect given by a face wound in many aspects prevents interpersonal integration. The cancer-associated damage of this part of the body generates feelings of rejection, existential loneliness, and fear of self. Looking at the problem of the face affected by cancer from an interdisciplinary perspective may initiate interesting findings and insightful debates.

Material and methods
A phenomenological method was employed, describing a phenomenon or an object as it is visually perceived by a researcher. Capturing the quintessence of a particular phenomenon or object is done through phenomenological reduction which entails an assumptionless research approach and a so-called eidetic view.

Conclusions
A neoplastic face wound involves multidimensional suffering in existential, axiological, ethical, relational and above all medical terms as a loss of identity of a human face. Health-care professionals should adopt a broad perspective when considering the impact of the wound on daily life, functioning and sense of identity of the patients, focusing also on their subjective feelings and how much a visually changing wound on the face affects them.