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any remedy for cracked lips, due to chemo

christald21
christald21 CSN Member Posts: 55
in Breast Cancer #1

Hi,

 

      I am done with my 4th treatment of 6.  I still get the sore mouth, and and my tastebuds are nuts for about 10 days after treatment.  It is so hard to eat.  I am dealing with the nausea o.k, I guess, with taking 3 different nausea drugs as needed.  But now the last two treatments I have been getting really bad cracked lips on the sides of my lips.  So sometimes when i open my mouth wide it crackes and bleeds.  Does anyone have a rememdy for this.  It is quite embarassing at times when i have these sores and cracks on each side of my lips.  I have been using some reallly good jelly creams at night, and chapstick.  Aquafor is one of them, it helps a little, but if anyone can add, please do. 

Also after i am done with my last treatment,  6th one,,, can't wait, I then have surgery then back on herceptin for remainder of my year.  My doctor says the treatments will be like a vacation.   How true is that?  Am i still going to have the nausea, mouth sores, tiredness, etc....  ?

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  • Puffin2014
    Puffin2014 CSN Member Posts: 531 Member
    #2
    cracked lip corners

    Since it's just the corners of your lips that are cracked, I think you have Perleche, or angulr cheilitis. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angular_cheilitis

    I was diagnosed by a dermatologist and had it off and on over the years. Immunosuppression can cause an outbreak, my chemo brought on a relapse.

    Here's an article on treating it. My Dr had me use a q-tip to dap an antifungal cream, then a steroid cream, then bacitracin cream to the corners of my lips twice a day for a week, then just the antifungal and bacitracin creams. Cleared it up.

    http://www.derm101.com/therapeutic/angular-cheilitis/treatment/

    Also, for anyone having problems with dry lips during chemo, don't use any lip product with peppermint or menthol in it, it'll burn. Try the lip balm by Nivea A Kiss of Smoothness. It even has SPF15 sunscreen. It comes in a "chapstick" like tube, bought mine at CVS.

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