Talking about sun exposure. I am currently on my annual dose of efudex/dovenex, a skin chemo cream that I put on my lips. This is the third year in a row I have undergone this. I don't have cancer, merely actinic cheilitis ( or keratosis) on the lips and the only way to prevent this from turning into cancer is to go through these treatments. Year one was a bitch with massive fatigue and other side effects. Plus, the doctors never told me how this works, that you don't begin to see any reaction till day 5 and especially after you stop using the chemo cream. I wasn't aware of this so I put on more than I should have during days 5-7 so I got quite the reaction.
Year two no side effects or fatigue and a nice more normal reaction of crustiness and ulceration of lips.
Year 3 has largely turned out the same with no side effects. I just stopped the chemo treatment and my lips are in burn mode, which is good, of course, because that means the precancerous cells are being destroyed. Problem is only about 75% get destroyed, which means I'm back for another round next year.
I am aware of other treatments, especially the newer ones, but they only kill 85% of the precancerous cells and I don't want to go through the flu like, low fever symptoms.
Only limitation I have is no kissing during the treatment unless my wife wants to experience chemotherapy. Also, we have a dog and if he licks my lips, he will die so I am constantly holding my hand over my lips when he is near me.
Fluorouracil ( Efudex) is poison for dogs.
There is a way around the kissing limitation. Just wash and clean your lips thoroughly 3 hours after putting it on. But I wouldn't overdue it.
I use Efudex/dovenex ( calcipotriene) twice a day 5-7 days a week annually.
In the USA, 85% of dermatologists cannot even diagnose the condition properly. And the ones that do, have radically different treatment options in regard to not only this chemo cream, but to treatment in general.
I had one dermatologist tell me to take 1000mg of vitamin B3 daily. |
