A Whole-Person Integrative Approach to a Chronic Non-Healing Post-Mastectomy Wound in a Breast Cancer Survivor

Mahalati Kathy*, Deniz Tara, Lewis Kerry, Collins John and Forman Douglas

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Maryland Capital Region Health; Department of Integrative Medicine, International Quantum University for Integrative Medicine, USA Department of Integrative and Natural Medicine, International Quantum University for Integrative Medicine, USA; School of Pharmacy, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Maternal–Fetal Medicine, University of Maryland Capital Region Health, USA Departments of Neurology, Mercy Health – St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital (Level I Trauma Center), Youngstown, Ohio, USA Department of Plastic Surgery, Georgetown University School of Medicine; Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, USA

^*Correspondance to: Kathy M. Mahalati 

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Abstract:

Background: Chronic nonhealing wounds following mastectomy in breast cancer survivors represent a significant therapeutic challenge, often driven by persistent inflammation, impaired angiogenesis, immune dysregulation, oxidative stress, and tissue hypometabolism. These wounds frequently resist standard care approaches, leading to delayed healing, recurrent infection, and compromised quality of life. Objective: This case report describes the therapeutic impact of an integrative medicine protocol as an adjunct to conventional wound management in a breast cancer survivor with a chronic nonhealing post-mastectomy wound. Methods: A multimodal integrative intervention was administered alongside standard oncologic and surgical wound care. The protocol included oral administration of freshly prepared Curcuma longa (turmeric), Zingiber officinale (ginger), and Piper nigrum (black pepper) juice; sublingual delivery of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); and topical application of Piper nigrum essential oil diluted in a cold-pressed almond oil carrier, supplemented with one drop each of fresh turmeric and ginger juice as a wound dressing. The therapeutic rationale was grounded in the known synergistic anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, angiogenic, and antimicrobial properties of these phytochemicals. The patient also continued conventional treatments, including antibiotics, surgical debridement, and oncologic therapies as indicated. Results: The patient demonstrated clinically significant improvements in wound healing, including reduced wound size, exudate, and pain, with accelerated granulation tissue formation and re-epithelialization. The botanical constituents modulated key molecular targets implicated in chronic wound pathophysiology, including NF-κB, Nrf2, TRPV1, and CB1/CB2 receptors. Cannabinoids contributed to immunomodulation, reduction of neurogenic inflammation, and enhanced mesenchymal stem cell recruitment via p42/44 MAPK activation. The oral and topical phytochemicals exhibited synergistic effects, with black pepper enhancing the bioavailability of curcumin and gingerol and potentiating their anti-infective action at the wound site. Adjunctive micronutrients (zinc, vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acids) and psychosocial interventions (yoga, meditation, acupressure) further supported systemic healing and reduced psychological stress, known to impair cutaneous repair via hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation. Conclusion: This integrative regimen, combining targeted phytotherapeutics and cannabinoidbased interventions with conventional care, resulted in favorable clinical outcomes in a breast cancer survivor with a chronic nonhealing post-mastectomy wound. This case highlights the therapeutic potential of a system-based, phytomedicine-supported approach in resolving complex wound pathologies. Further studies are warranted to validate these outcomes, clarify mechanisms, and inform standardized treatment protocols.

Keywords:

Breast Cancer

Cite the Article:

Kathy M, Tara D, Kerry L, John C, Douglas F. A Whole-Person Integrative Approach to a Chronic Non-Healing Post- Mastectomy Wound in a Breast Cancer Survivor. Ann Clin Case Rep. 2025; 10: 2786..