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Anyone had actinic keratosis turn into squamous cell carcinoma?
Cancer | Last Active: Oct 30 9:37pm | Replies (15)Comment receiving replies
Thank you for the links.
Throughout the summer, I had a non-healing lesion on my lower lip that was biopsied in early October. Result: actinic keratosis. After the biopsy, the lesion was gone and my biopsy site healed.
However, since then, I have new lesions both on the lower lip and inside the cheek. Is it normal for actinic keratosis to suddenly erupt again and spread from the lower lip to the inside of the mouth?
Wondering how I should proceed. Dermatologist or ENT doc?
Replies to "Thank you for the links. Throughout the summer, I had a non-healing lesion on my lower..."
Start with your dentist. I was misdiagnosed twice by a FORMER family doctor and an ENT. They both diagnosed me with TMJ. A routine visit to my dentist a few days after 2nd misdiagnosis my dentist was looking at my neck. He asked how long I’ve had this lump in my neck. I said I’ve been to my doctor and ENT twice in the past few months and they both said it was a swollen saliva gland. I added that they both said I have TMJ.
My dentist proceeded to massage my neck and then conducted a mouth exam. He began running his finger under my tongue and said, “you don’t have TMJ but you need to get back to the ENT”. I replied that I see him the next day again for TMJ. My dentist replied, “no, he needs to scope and biopsy your throat!” I asked, is it not good Doc? He replied “no, I believe your base of tongue has a tumor and the lump in your neck is not a saliva gland!” My dentist asked who the ENT was and told me he would personally call him before the end of the day!
Found to be Stage IV Cancer, thank God for a phenomenal dentist!
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Yes, I have had several surgeries to remove squamous cell carcinomas and one Mohs surgery to remove an infiltrative basal cell carcinoma. Actinic keratosis is a precursor to these kinds of skin cancer. My dermatologist says the stage for development of actinic keratosis is set, in many cases, years ago from prolonged exposure to sun especially without the protection of sunscreen. Actinic keratosis is not a condition that would occur inside the mouth which is lined with a mucous membrane and has no keratin. So I would have that checked out.
I have had several treatments with fluorouracil cream which is applied over a course of 2 to 4 weeks. Another product is efudex. Both are meant to rid one of actinic keratosis before they become cancerous. Interestingly, these creams will expose heretofore unseen actinic keratoses before application.
As the course of the treatment continues irritated red lesions appear representing these actininic keratoses. There are several studies that provide convincing evidence that taking 500mg of Niacin twice daily can curb the incidence of actinic keratosis by as much as 23%. Bottom line is WEAR SUNSCREEN!