Aldara 5% Cream

I am a physician being treated with aldara for a basal cell carcinoma on my upper lip. After one week of aldara, the inside of my upper lip is totally buring, inflamed, and looks like it is a fever blister or herpes outbreak. I have never had herpes, and prior to treatment had an unrelated blood/serology test confirming that I have never had type 1 or type 2 herpes.

I want to try to use aldara to avoid having surgery that is going to cut through the border of my lip, for which the scar may leave me looking like I have a hare lip. As someone else on here wrote, I am concerned with the appearance- it sucks walking around looking like I am having a massive herpes outbreak on my lip. The pain is pretty significant too. 

THe prescribing information for aldara states that it should not be used around the lips, and that vesicles do occur (it does not specify vesicles on lip vs elsewhere). It is definitely possible that someone who has oral herpes could have a reactivation triggered by aldara use, but this thread and other information make me suspect that adara use near the lip often results in a painful blistering that looks like herpes but is not.

Good luck everyone. 

Hi, sorry to hear what you are going through. I too had basal cell on my upper lip and was treated with Aldara. I was instructed to use it twice a day for 3 weeks. Right about the stage that you are, 1 week, was extremely painful. My upper lip turned dark red/brown and would bleed often. This continued for another week until on the third week it was all black, a large scab which the Dr. removed.

A year later it appears the cancer is gone, I am awaiting a biospy result, I still have a tiny red mark which my Dr thinks may be scar tissue from the initial biopsy. In the event it is still Basal Cell I will most luckily opt for the mohs surgery.

Aldara is a tough treatment, there is no doubt about that but should produce great cosmetic results. If you are on the same schedule I was the next week willbe rough but it should settle down after that. Yes, your are right, its tough to be out in public, I took 3 weeks off from work.

Best of luck, let me know if you have questions.

On 3/3/2005 Lesandflo wrote:

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

I also applied mine after mohs surgery it was gross, it's been 4 weeks I've never felt so sick or tired.  I sleep all the time..My dr. has me on 3 x a week for 4 weeks, next is my face but after being sick I'll wait till next winter. So yes all the symptoms are from aldara

I'm new to the board and I'm sorry to hear about some of the complications people have experienced.

 My question is: I have aldara in these little packets and was wondering if you throw away the unused portion after you apply it?? I had two surgeries on my nose to remove a melanoma and my doctor recommended using this cream..............I don't have that big of an area to apply it to. Any thoughts??

 nothing like going to the store and have the pharmasists think you have genital herpes.

 Rick

On 7/14/2007 rickj wrote:

I'm new to the board and I'm sorry to hear about some of the complications people have experienced.

 My question is: I have aldara in these little packets and was wondering if you throw away the unused portion after you apply it?? I had two surgeries on my nose to remove a melanoma and my doctor recommended using this cream..............I don't have that big of an area to apply it to. Any thoughts??

 nothing like going to the store and have the pharmasists think you have genital herpes.

 Rick

On 8/15/2007 georgieporgie38 wrote:

Hi Rick,

Just received an RX for Aldara from my dermatologist.  He performed a MOHS procedure on the front part of my scalp and it was rather slow to heal.   He said the Aldara would reduce the scarring. 

His nurse suggested that I put a pinprick into the Aldara packet and squeeze it until it reaches the size of a "pea" and apply it to my scalp.  She further suggested that I place the usused portion of the packet in a Ziploc bag and put it in the refridgerator and continue using the packet for the next application.

George

On 7/14/2007 rickj wrote:

I'm new to the board and I'm sorry to hear about some of the complications people have experienced.

 My question is: I have aldara in these little packets and was wondering if you throw away the unused portion after you apply it?? I had two surgeries on my nose to remove a melanoma and my doctor recommended using this cream..............I don't have that big of an area to apply it to. Any thoughts??

 nothing like going to the store and have the pharmasists think you have genital herpes.

 Rick

 

On 4/22/2005 Baseballmom wrote:

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 see this message is 2 years old but this is my first time here and would like to know how it was resolved.  I used Aldara to a spot on upper lip and after 9 treatments, my entire bottom lip broke out in green blisters and thick peeling skin.  N.P. at dermo says she has never seen this and maybe I have cancer in whole bottom lip!  I am freaked out!  Any info greatly appreciated.

On 2/15/2007 Mono_mundo wrote:

I am a physician being treated with aldara for a basal cell carcinoma on my upper lip. After one week of aldara, the inside of my upper lip is totally buring, inflamed, and looks like it is a fever blister or herpes outbreak. I have never had herpes, and prior to treatment had an unrelated blood/serology test confirming that I have never had type 1 or type 2 herpes.

 

I want to try to use aldara to avoid having surgery that is going to cut through the border of my lip, for which the scar may leave me looking like I have a hare lip. As someone else on here wrote, I am concerned with the appearance- it sucks walking around looking like I am having a massive herpes outbreak on my lip. The pain is pretty significant too. 

 

THe prescribing information for aldara states that it should not be used around the lips, and that vesicles do occur (it does not specify vesicles on lip vs elsewhere). It is definitely possible that someone who has oral herpes could have a reactivation triggered by aldara use, but this thread and other information make me suspect that adara use near the lip often results in a painful blistering that looks like herpes but is not.

 

Good luck everyone. 

Did you ever get a solution to your lip problem?  My wife is using this cream on her lips for possible cancer and she had the same out break after one week.  Her lips are so sore she can not talk or eat.  Her body feal like she has the flu all the time. Is there something that has worked for other users of this cream.

THanks

Yikes.  I just saw my derm today and she gave me the black sample packets of Aldara.  I had the nitrogen treatment previously, but don't want to have it again (it was a horrible experience).  So she gave me the Aldara, since it's just a small spot on my lip, but after reading here, I'm reluctant to try it.

The other problem is that my lips are so chapped (thank to the Ohio winter) that I'm not entirely clear where I am to be applying the Aldara.  I guess I really, really need to pinpoint it to avoid over-applying it.

The derm did warn me about the possibility of an extreme reaction (the blistering, etc) and stated that some people do have experience the treatment more severely than others.  

She also stated that the reaction typically only occurs in reaction to cancer cells.  In other words, if there are no cancerous cells, the Aldara doesn't react strongly.  However, if it's applied and there is a severe reaction, it's an indicator that the medication is working on the cancer cells.  (That's my understanding of what she told me, at least.)

Am I off-base, or did I understand correctly?

My dentist offered to numb me with novacaine before another treatment with the nitro blaster.  I may go that route instead.  What I'm reading about the Aldara is worrying me quite a bit.  But I am so grateful to everyone here for sharing their personal stories.  Thank you!