Efudex - Day 17

Hi everyone. I've been reading the posts about Efudex. I was prescribed Efudex (called Efudix) in Australia where I am from, and my dermatologist said to use it for 3 weeks. I'm now in L.A with no dermatologist here and am at Day 17 using the cream morning and night.

 I had no actual skin cancers or problem areas, just a few rough spots (left side of nose, above each eyebrow, near right side of hairline and above lip on right side). And I had developed slight "age" spots on my cheeks. At age 38 my dermatologist said, "hey, try efudex as it will eliminate the spots"

Well I did, and it just blew up bigger and uglier than i imagined. 

Here are some photos from today, day 17 on efudex treatment

http://www.gilli.net/misc1  

My question is, can I stop using it now? I've read some posts that some of you have done just 14 days/twice a day. Well, I've done over that amount of time. It's very itchy and I feel swollen like I have a mask on. Very self conscious and I have a day job and i've had to take days off sick. All the areas are scaly, patchy, and red. Some areas are crusty like a scab and i see that will heal now. Near my nose, and under my nose, and above my lip are the worse. Still very inflamed.

I wonder, am I at the stage where I can now stop using it ?

 G

Hello Warriorgirl,  (G)

Good photos, and nice (appropriate) name you chose :-)   Are you spot treating, or did you apply Efudex to your entire face and forehead? 

I took a bunch of daily photos, and would post my photos, but I think I might scare half the people into not doing this.  I would say 60% of my face peeled off about 2 weeks ago, and peeled for 7 days straight. But now my skin is baby-butt smooth. I guess that means it found a lot of my problem areas. 

After going 17 days of this, you are almost done.  I would try and stick out the "battery acid" treatments as long as you can. I know it is hard mentally to apply each treatment, and also it is hard to go out in public. I was pretty good about going out in public when I had to, but still it was hard and I did avoid it some, and I caught a few (only a few) people staring at me.  I think they thought I had some flesh eating disease. Idea: Maybe go in to work really early in the morning , maybe 3 hours early, and then maybe come back in the evening and work late. Or work from home a few days if you have that type of job.  Ask your boss to help you figure something out. Maybe email those photos to the boss.

But you know, I found that if I told people that I had to interact with, that I was doing a face treatment then people really did care and it wasn't so bad.  Also, when I went out in public I found most people to be so wrapped up in their own world they hardly pay much attention to others.  Also, it was sort of fun, to not tell people anything at all and see if they squirmed or not, or asked me if anything was wrong.

I think from reading previous posts, the longer you do this the more sun damaged spots it finds and kills.  After you stop it will take at least another week to peel and heal, at least it did for me.  I am on day 34 (20 days post tx) and I still have a slight sunburn look, but no pain and no peeling.

Also, after reading hundreds of other posts about Efudex, I think that there are lots of different % strengths of Efudex, Fluorouracil, and other treatments. Mine said 4% on the bottle of Fluorouracil cream that I used. So that is why some of the lengths of treatment are different. So maybe check with your Dr.  I have a feeling he will tell you to stick with it.  Only 4 more days, right?

What worries me is my dermatologist had me go 14 days 2x a day, and it seemed many others I read about have to go 21 days or more. I'm worried maybe my treatment didn't find all my problem areas, and I might have to do this thing again in 3 to 5 years.  

Currently staying out of the sun, and using spf 70 and lots of big hats, and going out after the sun goes down.

Hang in there!

Also, check out this thread below, which is also on this site, and has been going for a couple years.  There are just under 500 posts so far; a lot of caring people all going through the same pain. It helped me get through my rough treatment.

http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,4537,

My doctor gave me pretty clear instructions....if after the first 2 weeks it is an agressive look such as what is happening to me to. To stop if not much is really happening continue another week and if the same results continue

AK may not really look like much but in my case growing up in Arizona even though my doctor said he didn't think I needed to put it on my nose and near it. I did because the skin was flaking from time to time. SO keep it up check with the doctor.