Aldara 5% Cream

After surgery didn't remove all the Melanoma cancer cells, the dermatologist recommended using Aldara 5% cream as an alternative to a second surgery. Anybody have this done? It's made me very sick. Supposed to apply this for 6 wks. Don't think I will survive this treatment for 6 wks.

Lee mentioned in email that Aldara cream made him very sick. I have A-typical cells on left arm after 3 excisions. One suggestion was to use Aldara cream on these abnormal cells to see if it will reduce or do away with these cells. Why did this cream make you sick? Should anyone expect this that uses it? I would just like to be prepared. Thx, SW

sW
My doctor said the aldara creme would not make me sick, that others he has prescribed it for had no problems. But after coming down with severe flu like symptoms 3 times in 3 weeks I don't believe this was just a coincidence. I was supposed to apply the creme 5 times a week & skip 2 days & do this for 6 weeks. After starting & stopping I am now applying it twice a week. The vomiting & diarrhea & aching have stopped & the only problem now is severe redness & some skin peeling & some scabbing. The surgery was done to the upper left cheek & one thing I questioned was maybe the creme was applied to soon before the incision was healed enough. I still have to apply the creme for several more weeks because I cut down from 5 times a week to 2 times a week.

Good Luck,
Les

Thanks, Les--

This will help me when we go for our consultation on the 9th of this month. I am copying this email and taking it with me. I hope your recovery continues to be uneventful and speedy.

Sincerely,
s W

I've used Aldara on my hands and legs with no side effects and was successful in killing the precancer cells. However, my doctor now has me applying it to my upper lip for precancer treatment. It's effectively attacking the precancer but my bottom lip has ulcerated as if I have a massive outbreak of fever blisters. I've never had a fever blister in my life. Does anyone know anything about using Aldara near the mouth? Thanks.

I have been using Aldara Cream for 4 weeks now and have the expected local reaction (redness, scaling, scabing, burning and itching). Last week for the first time I began to experience extreme fatigue, severe joint and muscle pain and continuous low back pain and some stomach queasiness with loss of appetite and night fevers.
I am being treated for basal cell cancer on my upper chest where over 30 bcc spots have surfaced and am applying the cream 3X per week - hopefully to avoid surgical removal of that many lesions. The regimen is supposed to continue for 8 weeks, but I am beginning to wonder if it would not be prudent to skip a few treatments to see if the flu like symptoms abate.

What have others experienced - i would apprecaite some feedback.

Frank

Dear Denise,

My dermatologist prescribed Aldara cream to treat suspected flat warts on my chin. After two weeks, the warts are still there and both my lips have errupted in painful, ugly fever blisters. I don't recall ever having a fever blister before in my life, and did not see this listed as a side effect in the drug package insert. Can't decide if it's worth continuing treatment or not.

I had an infiltrating carcinoma on my right upper lip that I had Mohs surgery on....Now, I've been told to put aldara creme around my mouth because of flaking and suspicious dry skin.
I woke up with fever blisters on my lips and painful burning after a week's treatment. I teach school and was involved in parent conferences when my lips started to puff up and the pain became intolerable. I see my doctor on Monday (3-13) and do not think I can go through any more of the pain. Denise, what are you doing? I am afraid of he pain and also don't want anyone else to see what I look like. (I used to be cute) What other treatment is possible?

Hi, Sunny,

I'm sorry to hear that you and others are going through what I did. I saw my dermatologist and she had me apply Cutivate Ointment, 0.005% and Aquaphor Healing Ointment to the affected areas. She also had me apply warm compresses to break up the scabbing. The ointments provided almost immediate relief.

She insisted though that I was having a fever blister outbreak and it wasn't related to the Aldara. I see her on the 17th and I'm taking this message thread with me. It's seems fairly obvious to me that they shouldn't be prescribing Aldara for use around the mouth.

Take care and good luck.

Denise

Dear Debbie,

I'm sorry I never responded to your message. I wasn't notified when you posted and just now saw it.

I hope you were able to resolve everything ok. I still us Aldara but not near my mouth. My doctor only prescribes it at 3 times a week for 3 weeks. I've never had it prescribed for the frequency you and others have so I've not experienced those side effects.

Take care,

Denise