Efudex the easy way

Allwaysinthesun,

"so maybe I am not experiencing the full extent of the medication"

After 7 days you won't have the 5-FU destroying the tissue yet, so the side effects are going to be just red or pink areas and some "stinging".  I was discussing the healing process after treatment (TX).  After 2 times a day TX for 28 days may arms and hands were "raw" and screaming.  My posts were asking for suggestions to help the pain and speed healing.  You may not have to do as much chemo as I did, so hang in there.  Good luck!  Whitey

Agreed ! I strongly advise following your Dr's directions but just as well I advise that you learn as much as you can about it and relay that information to your Dr.

Is your Dr aware of the new research and the synergy provided by Celebrex?

 The treatment is 70% more effective with it.

Additionally, you should (as should everyone) on this treatment verify any information they are considering with the manufacturer.

There are people recommending solutions that are certain to aggravate and burn Efudex treated skin.  They contain many chemicals and irritants.

However, the same soothing relief you receive from a new application of Efudex comes from the white petroleum base that is 95% of the creme.

To the best of my knowledge, Valeant will only recommend white petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to be used after a 3 hour wait and on top of the Effudex when irritation, pain and tightness become an issue. (and they will).

Any of these other solutions may cause harm and any other interval may reduce the effectiveness.

Thanks Jeff1963 and Whitey1!

I appreciate all your comments and they have helped me a lot in understanding what is to come.  I guess I have been hoping in vain that it can't look any worse than it does, and was hoping that this is it.  It is so hard to have such a public job, where I interact with so many people throughout the day - I work in a large retirement community (2,000 people) and I deal with the residents and their families, doctor's, nurses etc etc.  I must say that the folks who are most sympathetic are those who have gone through similar treatment, and recognize the issue immediately.  I know someone who had most of her face rebuilt - so I know that I am doing the right thing by treating it in an early stage.  Thanks for your support!

Correction to my earlier post, Jeff.

 By package insert I meant pharmacy package insert.  You are correct that it is nowhere on the insert from the PHARMACEUTICAL company...mine is from OCEANSIDE not Valeant.  Regardless, up until yesterday (day 10) I really didn't need anything.

I decided to use the vaseline and not the Aquaphor since the Aquaphor has other ingredients in it that I believe would aggrevate my skin. 

The vaseline gives great relief!! 

 I would also like to add that I have found the Oil of Olay or Dove , sensitive skin cleansing cloths (rinsed first so the cleanser is very light) to be a great tool to wash with.  No soap, no Cetaphil...lightly going over the face with these helps to remove the vaseline and adds a bit of exfoliation.  I wait 10 minutes (killer) and apply the Efudex.  Feels good...then I wait as long as possible to apply the vaseline minimum 3 hours as you suggested. 

Ibuprophen (Motrin-600mg) is keeping me comfortable as needed.

These tips are going to help me complete the next  3.5 days. 

We can do it people...hat's off to Jeff for posting these tips!!

Right on Spanky! 

I think we all owe it to ourselves and others to try to find a regimen that helps the most amount of people start and finish the treatment.

When I first came on these boards I saw a lot of messages about fear, pain, and suffering and I wanted to do something about it for myself and for others by finding out as much as I could about how to get through this the easy way but still being effective.  (even more effective! )

I tried to use some common sense and asked a lot of questions to a lot of experts, past users, the universities and the manufacturer.  

I plan to stick around and continue to try to pay it forward by helping new users make it through the plan.

I am certain it doesn't have to be as painful and traumatizing as what I believed 4 weeks ago when I first started on the product.   

Hi Whitey,

I started a new thread on the post treatment that I am using.  It's going very well.

Well, yesterday I almost quit...day 12 of 14 5-FU 2X's daily. 

 I was burning up.  Called my doctor and told him that I was using Vaseline.  He recommend that I try the Aquaphor instead.  Remembering what I read here I hesitated.  To make a long story short, we contacted Eucerin (Aquaphor) and the Pharmaceutical company to ease my mind.  Aquaphor is proven to be suitable for this treatment.  It does not interfere with treatment as long as you wait 3 hours before applying.  Efudex takes approximately 2-3 hours to be absorbed by the skin.

Vaseline doesn't allow the skin to breathe as it acts as a protectant.  Which in turn makes it more difficult to wash.  Some people fare well with this.  I didn't, even though I was completely removing it with soft facial cloths and water. 

After trying the Aquaphor Friday afternoon I won't use anything else.  It is much easier to wash off and didn't keep the heat in which was HORRIBLE.  I feel wonderful and will be able to finish my treatment even though the doc said I could quit yesterday if I was that uncomfortable. 

Two more applications for me. 

 My skin feels FANTASTIC!!

I am one HAPPY, HAPPY GIRL!!!