Is Efudex Treatment For Bcc?

Hi -

I am new to this site, however I have been recently diagnosed with widespread skin cancer, BCC and SCC. I am presently being treated with Efudex on my chest and torso for sBCC. I found a site that states that Efudex is for pre-cancerous conditions only and cancer should never be treated with it as it can 'lead to nightmare malignanices'.  Has anyone else on this site used Efudex for sBCC? I have had one surgery and on Wednesday, I begin 6 weeks worth of surgeries, 14 in total. I also have new areas that have appeared just within the last week. Everything I have read on here about what to expect has been very helpful as I received NO info at all from my Dr. Not looking forward to using this cream on such a widespread area, but I'm well on my way! I am also interested in finding out if anyone else has had issues with having so much cancer in so many different areas on the body, as I do.

Thank you any input you can give -

I read your message . I have had two squamous cell lesions removed surgically. The derm then wanted me to use the effudex on my face because of the AK lesions. This is the 14th day of treatment and I am going to see the derm this afternoon.One of the squamous  cell lesions was on my face, and now that area looks very wierd. It is very tender there now, and looks darker than the surrounding skin. I will ask her the question you have about whether it's okay to use when the lesions are already cancerous, not precancerous.

 

On 3/20/2007 Blackbird35217 wrote:

I read your message . I have had two squamous cell lesions removed surgically. The derm then wanted me to use the effudex on my face because of the AK lesions. This is the 14th day of treatment and I am going to see the derm this afternoon.One of the squamous  cell lesions was on my face, and now that area looks very wierd. It is very tender there now, and looks darker than the surrounding skin. I will ask her the question you have about whether it's okay to use when the lesions are already cancerous, not precancerous.

Thank you - that would be wonderful! My fear is that she is having me use the Efudex too randomly and that it could cause greater issues going forward. Was the SCC already removed from your face surgically, or was this another one? I have read repeatedly that the Efudex in only effective on very superficial BCC - not nodular or any other type of BCC OR SCC. How has the Efudex affected your face otherwise?  Good luck to you today!

 

On 3/19/2007 Floridagirl wrote:

Hi -

I am new to this site, however I have been recently diagnosed with widespread skin cancer, BCC and SCC. I am presently being treated with Efudex on my chest and torso for sBCC. I found a site that states that Efudex is for pre-cancerous conditions only and cancer should never be treated with it as it can 'lead to nightmare malignanices'.  Has anyone else on this site used Efudex for sBCC? I have had one surgery and on Wednesday, I begin 6 weeks worth of surgeries, 14 in total. I also have new areas that have appeared just within the last week. Everything I have read on here about what to expect has been very helpful as I received NO info at all from my Dr. Not looking forward to using this cream on such a widespread area, but I'm well on my way! I am also interested in finding out if anyone else has had issues with having so much cancer in so many different areas on the body, as I do.

Thank you any input you can give -

I have finished my Efudex treatment for 2 weeks now. I was also treated for sBcc after having a few removed. I had to put the cream on my chest/neck and all over the face for 21 days x 2x day.. Areas that had nothing visible popped up and my chest neck and face were entirely covered(and painful). I did have 2 active lesions that were the first to really get sore and very inflamed they were near my eyes so the skin in the corner of the eyes cracked etc. Also 1 on my lip that was agony to go through. I don't know if this will help you at all I used Vaseline with Hydrocortisone to relieve the intense itiching and the horrible tightness.

I am very happy with the result but will be happier when the redness disappears and I can face the world again..

Good Luck.

For people who have diffuse cancers or cancer in functional/cosmetically important areas, superficial/ electron beam irradiation.  It also has the advantage of treating heavily involve areas of Actinic damage and sun damaged skin so it can also prevent the formation of new cancers.  It is as effective as surgery and if done slowly there is no scarring.  It is definitely an option in many situations, but many people are not offered it.

The side effects are a sunburn and maybe a blister in the area of the cancer.  I am told by patients it is much less painful than the Efudex and most importantly , usually it is long lasting and does not recur as with the Efudex.

 

On 3/19/2007 Floridagirl wrote:

Hi -

I am new to this site, however I have been recently diagnosed with widespread skin cancer, BCC and SCC. I am presently being treated with Efudex on my chest and torso for sBCC. I found a site that states that Efudex is for pre-cancerous conditions only and cancer should never be treated with it as it can 'lead to nightmare malignanices'.  Has anyone else on this site used Efudex for sBCC? I have had one surgery and on Wednesday, I begin 6 weeks worth of surgeries, 14 in total. I also have new areas that have appeared just within the last week. Everything I have read on here about what to expect has been very helpful as I received NO info at all from my Dr. Not looking forward to using this cream on such a widespread area, but I'm well on my way! I am also interested in finding out if anyone else has had issues with having so much cancer in so many different areas on the body, as I do.

Thank you any input you can give -

 

You asked if any one else has had cancer over wide spread areas of their body. I have!! I wondered if any others had this same experience and were using Efudex on several areas at once as treatment. For the last two years every 4 months I have gone to the dermatologist, two week later I’m seeing the plastic surgeon. For instance, my last visit to the derm was typical, he removed 7 lesions, 4 had to be removed again by the surgeons (all squamous). I have not had any problems with my face, which has remained clear (they give Retin-A the credit.)  My problem areas are my legs, chest and arms. Since the first of the year I have used Efudex on those areas. My face is irritated on both sides of my mouth and will not heal, even though I don’t put Efudex there. When or if I stop using Efudex I’m suppose to start using Retin-A all over. Has any one out there used Retin-A all over? I wonder what side effects that will have.  I had gotten use to having surgery every few months but I don’t think I can ever get use to using Efudex. Since I started using Efudex my life has change dramatically and I fear I have had (either) horrible side effects to effudex or some terrible disease or I’m going totally insane.

 

On 3/21/2007 Witchdoctor wrote:

For people who have diffuse cancers or cancer in functional/cosmetically important areas, superficial/ electron beam irradiation.  It also has the advantage of treating heavily involve areas of Actinic damage and sun damaged skin so it can also prevent the formation of new cancers.  It is as effective as surgery and if done slowly there is no scarring.  It is definitely an option in many situations, but many people are not offered it.

The side effects are a sunburn and maybe a blister in the area of the cancer.  I am told by patients it is much less painful than the Efudex and most importantly , usually it is long lasting and does not recur as with the Efudex.

 

Thank you for this information - very interesting. I will look into this further.