Side Effects of Carac or Efudex

Hello girlfromoz, Dorothy11, redcat, and others,

 Sorry for not getting back sooner.  I was on a 6042 mile tour of SW and NW US with my daughter.  13 National Parks + 2 monuments in 25 days.  Wore SPF 70 or 85 every day, but noticed that I was getting little lax applying it a few times and turned red because of it 2 times.  So I became more dilligent w/the SPF.  My arms started getting pretty tan even with SPF 70 and I noticed some white spots so I'm concerned and will ask the Dermotoligist next time.  I hope I don't have to treat my arms.  I have been applying SPF 70 to the backs of my hands more than I used to also, because I have a friend that has had to treat her hands a few times.

Wore my huge brimmed hat for all 25 days. It blew off at Hoover Dam, but I was able to retrieve it.  I almost bought cowboy hats for me and my daughter at Wall Drug in S.D. They would be great for keeping the sun off, because of the large brims.  Maybe next time, I'm not sure it that is my look or not?  I probably should have gotten them.

I noticed many tourists burning in the sun at the National Parks.  One about 16 year old girl was soooo dark, I thought it was her natural look, but then noticed a white tan line. I almost said something.  I wonder if that is appropriate to warn a total stranger.  Her parents were there too, and they must approve of her laying out in the sun for hours and hours.  I can't believe people still do that.  What do you think? Should we become evangalists of SPF ??

One last story: a friend from Iowa told me that he had the face treatment a few years ago. He was an Iowa farmer for 50 years. Last winter he had serious melonoma surgery ... twice. They were able to get rid of it all, he was lucky, it was localized, but the prognosis was touch and go for a couple months. He just got a clean bill of health from Mayo, but has a 12 square inch skin graft on one temple, and they had to cut all around his ear + down his neck. It looks like they detached his ear then sowed it back on.  So wear sunscreen, and hats, and stay out of the sun, is all I can say !!  And keep your kids out of the sun too.

To answer your questions.  I used mainly vasoline applied liberally.  I couldn't wait to get that vasoline on my face after a shower.  I was also really worried about scarring, but no scars.  My face is still really smooth a few months later.  And it turns red pretty easy with any exposure to the sun.

Dorothy, you are probably almost done with treatment?  How did it go?

I have decided to delay my efudex treatment until December because of:

1) people reporting the uncomfortable result in warm temperatures (I live in Arizona)

2) the tube I have should have been stored better for the 15 months while I delayed treatment

3) I will consult a dermatologist to get better follow along advice of what to do during treatment (if it is still the recommended treatment)

I have about 10 AK's spots on my forehead. The MD I got the prescription from said" it is not pretty it is not comfortable but it will be better afterwards" then handed me the script. I have dealt with the skin being dried and patchy by using lots of vaseline and I have lots of freckles any way.

I had 2 very bad blistering sunburns as a kid in Seattle on days in the snow and on the water. That and general exposure over the years resulted in the damage I have.

Refer people to:

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/sunscreens2008/bran

for sunscreens that work on both UVA and UVB rays. These are a lot more pricey than the common kind found in most stores but they are supposed to be more effective Same report different  format:

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/sunscreens2008/find

lookat #5, 27, 45 as ones you can search for and locate either locally or google.... Be sure to get the exact item as described or make sure it can be returned.

 

 

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?

 

Hi jumpingkokanee,

I would say that is good to wait until you are comfortable with the timing.  I wouldn't wait too long .  It might be good to start the treatment so the worst of it is during a week long holiday like Thanksgiving and you will be away from work and can sit around the house. For face tx, the worst week is usually end of week 2 (day 10 to 14) and all of week 3 (day 14 to 21) and week 4 too I guess, but mileage will vary with how often you apply and where you apply and how much skin damage you have. Some people have hardly any visible side effects. You might consider taking 3 days vacation along with the 2 days of Thanksgiving Holiday.  Maybe your work will let you take sick leave the week after.  Now, you can also just lead a normal life during the TX and ignore others.

I'm not sure Christmas time is the best time to do this because of all the shopping and parties involved and how busy Christmas time is.  Really there is no good time. Just do it, as they say.

From the low summer activity on this thread it appears that not too many have the treatment in the summer?  Is that the case?

 

I am in the middle of treatment and I have to say if I had the option, I would have waited until it was cooler outside.  I live in Georgia and the heat not only aggravates it, but the sweat makes me sting all over.  It is difficult not being able to participate in the summer time sports and activities.  Like you said there is no great time, but summer really stinks

Hello, all:  Thank you for being such an informative and supportive group of people - you all made it a little easier to go through my topical chemo treatment the past few weeks, and I just wish I had found you before my application was almost over. I have some pretty serious issues with my doctor and his nurse because they were uncommunicative (and dishonest), and I could have used more information before I started.  I applied Carax twice a day for 8 days, then once a day for 7 days, and am on day 3 after stopping.  My peeling is pretty constant, but not too painful - I went to a Trace Adkins concert last night and it felt wonderful to be out in the cool night air and not worried about who was looking at me and how I look!  I found some salve online that has helped me a great deal: it is "Raspex Burn Ointment", and is a little thinner than Vaseline. It stings just a little when I put it on the freshly peeled skin areas (what doesn't?), but it allows me to rub the itchy places and keep them from driving me nuts!  My doctor hardly looked at me at my follow-up visit but told me to discontinue treatment, so I hope that I am cancer free - I had one surgery three years ago for BCC which was huge, and I don't want to go through that again!  Best wishes, everyone, and don't forget your hats!

I finished a week ago a two week course of carax nightly.  My face has peeled once and it still very pink and tight.  How long does it take to return to normal?  My doctor said I only needed to do two weeks and at the end of two weeks i was grateful.  Now I am worried I didnt use it long enough.  I have not seen my doc since stopping and wont for two more weeks only because of no available appointments.  Should I start using it again?

Hi everyone,

After a bit of procrastination in starting, I finished my Efudex about 2 weeks ago.

First, I just wanted to say how sorry I am for all of those that have what must be a severe reaction and a lot of discomfort, but for all the people who are thinking about doing the treatment, and get put off by reading some of the entries on this forum, I just wanted to tell my story.

I was instructed to apply the cream twice a day for 3 weeks. I did my whole face as I just wanted to get the whole thing over and done with ASAP. I used the smallest (half pea) amount of cream, and to be sure it covered my whole face I just wet my fingers with some water after I had applied the cream and rubbed my fingers over my face.

After 1 week my forehead, cheeks, nose, upper lip and eyebrows were quite red and felt sore (it felt like the skin was cracking) when i put the cream on, but on a score of 1 to 10 for pain it was only about a 2. I used the Olay 30+ moisturizer (the highest SPF in Australia) which is really lite on the skin and not at all greasy. Although I was quite red and blotchy I was able to cover it quite well with makeup (I use Estee Lauder Futurist). At night I cleansed with an oil based makeup remover (shu uemura) and moisturised with Avene Rich Hydrating cream for sensitive skin.

I had an appointment with my Dermatologist after the first week and she was very happy with my progress, she told me to only apply the cream once a day or even miss a day if it started to get too sore and red. Over the next 2 weeks I may have missed about 3 days and perhaps only applied the cream once a day on about 5 occasions.

By the end of the 3 weeks the redness was starting to go brown with a flat, dry scab (of sorts). I was and am still using the Olay during the day and at night I used (and still use) Bio-oil. After one week of healing my skin was peeling, but not severely. After two weeks my skin is almost completely healed and I only have a few faint red spots that I can completely cover with makeup. My skin feels fantastic and I think looks better than it did 5 years ago.

I am so happy I did the treatment and would do it again if I had to.

So, I just wanted new readers to know that not everyone has the reaction that you see in the photos that some people have posted, but I also think its good to go into it with the knowledge of what the worst, and the best possible scenario could be.

If your wondering, I have very fair skin (blue eyes, dark blond hair), and seem to be prone to skin rashes (so sensitive skin) and freckles (but not so much now I am in my 40s).

Hi all,

I started Carax last night and am to do it for 3 weeks.  I hear others using it twice a day, though my doc said only once a day.  Should it be twice a day???? I really don't want to repeat it all over again. 

Also the doc said I could put it on my lips but that was immediately painful. Does the pain mean I should keep it up or is this not such a good idea? Thanks for the support!

I've been diagnosed with AK (tip of my nose).  My Derm has recommended Carac. Since the AK is in such a prominent spot, I'm quite concerned about possible scarring. Can anyone give me an idea of cosmetic results/pigment loss due to the use of Carac on the nose? Thanks