Actinic Cheilitis (Farmer's Lip)

This picture shows dry, scaly & cracked lips.
Actinic cheilitis is significantly more common in men, the elderly, and fair-skinned individuals. There is also a strong association with tobacco use.


Actinic cheilitis, sometimes known as "farmer's lip" or "sailor's lip," is a precancerous condition related to cumulative lifetime sun exposure. The lower lip is most often affected. Individuals with actinic cheilitis often complain of persistent dryness and cracking of the lips. They will frequently exhibit other effects of sun-damaged skin, such as precancerous lesions on the skin called actinic keratoses and extensive wrinkling.

A certain type of skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) develops in 6–10% of cases of actinic cheilitis. 

Signs and Symptoms

Actinic cheilitis is located on the lips, most often the lower lip. Persistent redness, scaliness, and chapping are among the symptoms noted. Erosions and cracks (fissures) may be present as well.

Preventive Tips

 Wearing  wide-brimmed hats and sunscreen-containing lip balms can aid in preventing actinic cheilitis. 

When to Get Medical Help

See a dermatologist when persistent scaling of the lips is noted. A biopsy of the lip may be needed to rule out squamous cell carcinoma.

Treatments 

In severe cases without evidence of malignancy, a lip shave procedure (vermilionectomy) may be performed. In less extreme cases, your doctor may recommend ablation of the damaged cells with a carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser.

Alternative treatments include the use of electric current to destroy the precancerous cells (electrodesiccation) and a facial sanding technique (dermabrasion). Topical therapy with a chemotherapeutic agent (fluorouracil) or a topical immunomodulator (imiquimod) may be prescribed.

Advanced Prostate Cancer- cure?

What is meant by advanced prostrate cancer?

Prostate cancer is defined as 'advanced' when it spreads outside the prostate gland. It may spread to nearby tissues, lymph nodes, bones, or other parts of the body. It is also called metastatic prostate cancer.

Can it be cured?

Currently, no cure exists for advanced prostate cancer. Men can benefit, however, in several ways. Some  treatments slow the growth of the cancer. Others reduce symptoms caused by the disease. Till recently, no therapy was offered to prolong life. Now a chemotherapy drug Taxotere, when taken with the steroid prednisone, has been proven to extend survival by several months. Taxotere is approved only for men with cancer that no longer responds to hormone therapy (called hormone refractory prostate cancer).

In addition, Provenge, a "vaccine" for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer, does appear to extend survival -- by months for most patients, by years for some. Provenge isn't your everyday vaccine. It's an immune therapy created by harvesting immune cells from a patient, genetically engineering them to fight prostate cancer, and then infusing them back into the patient. It's approved only for treatment of patients with few or no symptoms who have prostate cancer that has spread outside the prostate and no longer responds to hormone therapy.

The side effects of the treatment.

Most doctors use hormone therapy to control the spread of advanced prostate cancer, common side effects  caused by hormone therapy include reduced sex drive, impotence, infertility, and osteoporosis (weakened bones). Erectile dysfunction and infertility occur in most men who undergo hormone therapy. The risk and extent of bone loss depends largely on how long a man receives hormone therapy. Mostly, doctors recommend ways to combat these side effects.

When people do not respond to hormone therapy, doctors may try a chemotherapy drug called Taxotere. Possible side effects of Taxotere include nausea, hair loss, and bone marrow suppression (the decline or halt of blood cell formation). Patients may also develop fluid retention and pain, tingling, or numbness in the fingers or toes.

Though new, thus far Provenge has been remarkably safe. However, clinical trials suggested the treatment might be linked to a slightly increased risk of  stroke. Almost all patients suffer some mild to moderate side effects such as chills, fatigue, fever, back pain,  joint ache, nausea and headache.

It's important for everyone with advanced prostate cancer to discuss their concerns with their doctor before beginning treatment.

Difficultly urinating if the cancer has enlarged lymph nodes, causing them to block the flow of urine.

Weakness from anemia if the prostate cancer is disrupting the production of red blood cells in bone marrow.

Pain, especially when the cancer has spread to the bones.

Fractures if bones are severely weakened.

Men who notice early symptoms such as difficulty urinating may have more treatment options than those who notice symptoms only after cancer has spread to the bones.

What can be done to counter bone loss?

Drugs called biphosphonates (Actonel, Zometa, and others) can help make bones stronger and prevent fractures. Doctors sometimes perform surgery to support affected bones. Plus, radiation therapy directed at the bone can reduce pain caused by bone metastases.