efudex just begining

Okay, so I'm a little scared (maybe more than a little).  I'm only applying the efudex 1x at night and then washing off in the morning and applying sunblock in am. as per my dermatologist.  He says 3 weeks of treatment and 10 days to heal.  Doesn't sound like that's what most of you are doing, could he be wrong?  I'm a little worried after hearing these discussions.  I need to apply from wrists to shoulders on both arms.  They biopsied 4 and found 2 squamous cell carcinomas and 1 basal cell, but I have hundreds of spots all over my arms....so now this horrible cream....WOW it sounds pretty rough but with Gods help and your advice I'm sure I'll get through... On day 6 of treatment...just a little burning.

Thanks, Trish

On Nov 01, 2009 3:55 AM Anne2496 wrote:

Okay, so I'm a little scared (maybe more than a little).  I'm only applying the efudex 1x at night and then washing off in the morning and applying sunblock in am. as per my dermatologist.  He says 3 weeks of treatment and 10 days to heal.  Doesn't sound like that's what most of you are doing, could he be wrong?  I'm a little worried after hearing these discussions.  I need to apply from wrists to shoulders on both arms.  They biopsied 4 and found 2 squamous cell carcinomas and 1 basal cell, but I have hundreds of spots all over my arms....so now this horrible cream....WOW it sounds pretty rough but with Gods help and your advice I'm sure I'll get through... On day 6 of treatment...just a little burning.

Thanks, Trish

Hi Trish,

Different doctors prescribe different treatments. Mine says once a day for 28 days. Yet a hospital in a neighbouring town has a leaflet that says twice a day for 14 days.

My doctor says the treatment has less adverse reaction at once a day and castigated me for over-doing it and going  faster when I got eczema on the area.

You are doing 21 days. I was once doing a course and the doctor asked if I'd done at least 21 days. When I said yes he told me to stop.  It's been OK.

It can get sore but I've always done mine in stages.

Are you treating the SCC and BCC with Efudix. I wonder if they are SCC in situ which is also known as Bowens Disease. I had that and it's only shallow so can be treated with cream although mine was cut out by a plastic surgeon.

I have a website diary and description of my treatment which is about my scalp mainly.

http://www.mynewsplace.co.uk/efudix.html

Pete

Pete,

Thanks for your reply.  I'm going on my 7th day now and it's a little more burning every day.  I've had 2 surgeries, the squamous had a tumor and the basal was on the surface.  More was required of the squamous than the basal but there are hundreds of spots so they want me to apply efudex from my writs to my shoulders on both arms.  Hopefully I'll fare better than some of those whose stories I read.  They seemed to have a horrible experience and I'm hoping it's not too horrible...bad enough to get rid of cancer but not so bad it's intollerable.  With God everything is possible.

Thanks,

Trish

Hi Trish,

I did the treatment on my arms and had hardly any reaction at all.  Just a strange, warm somewhat burning sensation. 

Now I am doing it on my face, and its a totally different story. I am 20 days into it and bright red with blisters and crusts all over. Its horrible! 

I also had surgery for BCC in May and this is the follow up. I had photodynamic therapy as well, which I found to be very easily tolerable but not very effective.

best of luck!

Dani