Efudex And Carac Treatment

On 1/12/2008 Anxious wrote:

I have been on Efudex 5% for five days.  Still nothing but a little stinging.  No redness to speak of.  How long does it typically take to react?

Hi There,

I am on day 19 (of 21) on Efudex 5% and I can tell you that I had little symptoms for the first 8 or so days besides a little redness in a couple of areas.  Fairly soon after that I started to get red in certain areas, mostly around my chin and laugh line area from my nose to my mouth.  My initial pre-cancerous AK was on my cheek and that did not light up until a few days later.   Even within the last couple of days, a few new areas are red and I am not sure if they are just irritated with the medication or if these are 'bad skin' areas as well.  

Although it has been a tough journey (I haven't really left the house in the last 7-8 days), I am glad I am doing it and hope to never have to do it again.  I am at the crusting over stage in the area under my bottom lip down to my jawline and it is very itchy!   I have found that just patting on a little Aquaphor is almost immediately soothing, while the cortisone type products made my face really sting.

Good luck with your treatment Anxious, and hang in there.  Also get out as much as possible before the symptoms really kick in.  

Why has my dermatologist told me not to use anything but the Efudex for the entire two weeks?

Thank you al for your posts

starting surfing at age 10, beach lifeguared thu hs and college, and still surf. Had one melanoma scare, got it all, but not so for my brother who died last yr from it. (I now wear a hat, slop on ss and carry a stick of ss in my wet suit sleave and keep it thick while out in the water)

Get cut outs and burn outs all the time, and now on # 2 Carac. Forehead, side of eyes and below eyes are a mess (day 20, going for 25). Eye is 1/2 shut. I do 1/2 the face at a time.

Aquaphor in the crows feet of the eyes help, bendyrl and Tynenol at night. They are starting to crack and weep now. A smile, laugh, or chewing hurts the face. You can clearly see where my hair line was when I was a young man (58 now), no red at all.

Hang in there all,

I am on day 21 of what was initially prescribed as a 4-6 week program of Efudex.  However, I went last week for a second opinion after reading everyone's posts.  I've never had anything more than a few AKs - and I mean a few.  3-4 on my face, 1 on arm, 1 on leg.  They were small but we froze them early.  I noticed after using retin-a that I had two more on my face, so my cosmetic surgeon (not derm) recommended trying Efudex.  I started on my face and chest.  After about 11 days, my face was cracked and bleeding in spots.  My 7th day visit to the CS proved frustrating.  When I asked him questions I'd thought of based on reading these messages, he seemed offended.  So when he said 4-6 weeks, I didn't argue, I just got a second opinion.  Thank God I did - the derm I saw on day 14 said I was done on the areas around my nose and chin.  I'm still treating forehead, sides of cheeks, and chest, but only until Friday.  Then it's time for healing.  Just wanted to thank everyone for the info they are posting here.  Two things I'm learning:  1- everyone's reaction is different; 2- second opinions are critical and 3- this too shall pass though there are times when I'd just love to run screaming.  Hope you are all moving along and healing well.

 Best wishes

Good advice! It is very important to remember that everyone reacts differently to the Efudex. I am on Day 14 and starting to get very uncomfortable.  I have been applying Efudex to my face, chest, arms, hands, shoulders, and back so am pretty well covered. My chest reacted first and has become very painful. The rest of me has been slow to react so dermatologist added Retin A to my procedure twice a day. She feels it will make the Efudex penetrate the skin better. My face is really starting to react now and becoming very painful around the eyes and lips. Has anyone else heard of speeding up the absorption by adding Retin A to the process?  I don't think my chest is going to take too much more Efudex. Thank God for Aloe Vera, Vanicream, and Ambien!  Good luck on your treatment! 

                 Red