Side Effects of Carac or Efudex

The hospital I attend, in the UK, recommends Efudix 1 / day for 4 to 6 weeks.

Every other hospital in the UK seems to recommend 2 / day.

I'm on day 23 on my forehead and it has a lot of blotches a bit like aceace.

Despite what others are saying I'll do my face a bit at a time. My dermotologist seems quite laid back about time and has frozen off the bigger AK.

Hi I am on day 2 of recovery from once a day 3 weeks treatment of my nose with Efudix (note the different spelling in Australia an "i" instead of an "e") I had a very small Squamous cell carcinoma removed from my nose and a year ago a Basil cell carcinoma from my ear they didn't get all the BCC it may come back.

 I asked  my doctor about the rest of my face and neck and he agreed to do it at two different times once my nose has healed but reading how people have trouble sleeping I am thinking of doing my forehead and right side of my face in one lot (I will look a sight) and then when that heals do the other side of my face with the neck. That way I will have a good side to sleep on. What do you people who have been through this think? 

Thanks for any responses.  Options >>  

I've thought about the possibility of going through the treatment 'piece by piece', keeping in mind I had an allergic reaction to Carac, so my reaction was anything but normal. However, I understand that even a normal reaction is very painful. Over all, I think I'd rather endure the discomfort all over and then be done with it. Yes, I dreamed of sleeping through the night, but now that it is over I'm glad I don't have to think of it anymore. Looking back, I'd ask if I could apply Aqualphor two hours after applying Carac...I'm certain that would help. And, since neither Benedryl nor TylenolPM helped me, I'd ask for an RX for a sleep aid. Sleep is sooo important when you're going through this level of pain. I'll think of you. Be brave. Lousy

 

On 5/11/2008 Lousy wrote:

I've thought about the possibility of going through the treatment 'piece by piece', keeping in mind I had an allergic reaction to Carac, so my reaction was anything but normal. However, I understand that even a normal reaction is very painful. Over all, I think I'd rather endure the discomfort all over and then be done with it. Yes, I dreamed of sleeping through the night, but now that it is over I'm glad I don't have to think of it anymore. Looking back, I'd ask if I could apply Aqualphor two hours after applying Carac...I'm certain that would help. And, since neither Benedryl nor TylenolPM helped me, I'd ask for an RX for a sleep aid. Sleep is sooo important when you're going through this level of pain.

I'll think of you. Be brave.

Lousy

Thanks for that, yes it would be good to get it all over with face and neck but I think that might be a bit much. There is an area I think of the skin that is the maximum that your allowed to do at one time. I think I will discuss it with my doctor before I start. I am on day 5 of my recovery with my nose and it doesn't look so red and today after my shower I rubbed some of the flaky skin away while it was wet and soft. It will be a pain going through all this but I feel we are lucky that we are given a second chance at having skin that is not sun damaged.

 

All at once....forehead, neck, hands, arms. I am on Day 12 of 21. Didn't sleep well at all last night. But I want to get this all over with and behind me.

 

On 2/17/2006 Frankl1n wrote:

I'm 32 and getting married in 3 weeks. I had a large SCC removed 4 yrs. ago from my temple and unfortunately didn't take the follow up very seriously (I went in once). Two days ago I went to a facial skin cancer specialist for a check-up (finally) and I am covered with ak's and she thinks a few new SCC's. She wants me to try carac (topical 5-FU, aka efudex) because there are too many to freeze without major scarring. From the pictures I've seen and the lecture my Dr. gave me, I'm going to look like walking hamburger for a few months. Has anyone out there tried this treatment? How bad was it really? Did the steroid cream help? How long was it post treatment until you looked normal again?

 I am 43 and went through a 4 week application of effudex this past January.  For me, it was not nearly as bad as the online pictures.  Sure, I was red and sore, especially around the nose and ears, but compared to the alternative, it was hopefully worth it.  I did not get completely red or pussy like some online pictures that are out there.  It was unsightly, and I was blotchy for about a week or so after the last application.  I am still convinced that it was all worth it.  Skin cancer is nothing to take lightly!  Bite the bullet and do what is best for your skin in the long run.

 

On 5/12/2008 1Fritz wrote:

All at once....forehead, neck, hands, arms. I am on Day 12 of 21. Didn't sleep well at all last night. But I want to get this all over with and behind me.

Wow good luck with the treatment 1Fritz.

 

Dear Friends, I have finished my 16 day treatment 2x a day to the face. I am really red, blotchy, a bit peely and pins/needles pain. I was happy to be finished but just read about additional pain and peeling after stopping treatment. Did you all "face" that? One tip to new readers: it seems the pain is worst 5 hours after application. I found that soaking my face in a warm bath stopped the pain. Also, one night I put a hot blowdryer to may face......I KNOW but it stopped the pain!!!!!

Hello All,

I posted these one-a-day photos of my TX experience a little over a month ago (last April 10th 2008 actually), but thought I would share the links again, because I see all new names on this thread now.  Sorry to all of you going through this right now, but I am glad that this thread keeps on. It is full of great inspiration.

Beware a few of the photos are painful and intimidating to look at.  Especially if you are just now starting. But I can assure you that everyone is different. Mine might have been close to a worst case scenario, but my dermotologist did tell me they see worse.

Here is a slideshow of the first 14 days of my Fluorouracil treatment.

http://www.slide.com/r/UOS38iRG0z_1PeL2Uf6edu7M91i06eJ3?prev

Post treatment slidshow photos, days 15 to 35:

http://www.slide.com/r/pOmkFem46z_jzpLKJMlRmWNzCCtwz3Xk?prev

I finished my tx on 3/2/2008 so it has been over 2 months. I wear SPF 70 every day now (keep 3 tubes of it in my car), and I see that Walmart now carries SPF 85 !!  I go in next week for my post dermo appointment to see if all my spots are gone. Wish me luck.

Did anyone use ScarZone to minimize or accelerate healing post efudex? I am 2 days post 28 treatments to face, red, swollen, not crusty, 1 white like non blister but blister looking, some dark spots, pins and needles sensation, can't wear my glasses comfortably.  I seem to have little spider lines here and there. I've been using aquaphor and petroleum jelly. Did anyone else develop the white blister like thing? Did it go away eventually? Will the tiny spider lines go away?