Latest Skin Cancer discussions http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/cancers/skin-cancer/1,0,119,4.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hello, My 58 year old mother had developed this bump-like ,crusty cyst into her ear. Some kind of a liquid was also running from it and smells bad. We have noticed it 2 months ago as it went from a pimple size to a peanut size cyst. The Doctor said it seems like it is there for more than 5 months. Before the surgery, after the first test results the Doctors couldn't recognize if it is actually "acanthoma or carcinoma". Today she underwent a surgery. The doctors said it was very deep almost near the scalp of the head. They said that it was fully removed. The piece was brought for another test. Can you please let me know more about it? IS it dangerous? http://s148.photobucket.com/albums/s31/tia_baby1/?action=vie  http://s148.photobucket.com/albums/s31/tia_baby1/?action=vie Thank you very much. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,24081,0.htm Minkata123 Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am on day 8 of Efudex, face, and ears. I thought maybe I didn't really get Efudex because until today I had only 1 spot above my lips. Mind you, I've been thirsty, tired and slightly queasy, and have a  lack of appetite. Today I seem to be developing polka dots. I'm in Ohio where it's been cool and raining. I read on the net that heat and sunshine makes the Efudex blossom sooner. I'm not in pain or facial discomfort-yet. I feel a little sore and dry around my nose. I've been reading everyone else's accounts to gauge my reaction. I am supposed to take Efudex for 14 days. I guess I assume each polka dot was a source of sun damaged skin and potential AK. I had several AK's removed from my face previously. (Also I had a Melanoma removed from my neck). After face and ears I'm supposed to start treatment with 'FU' as we affectionately call it, on arms, neck, upper chest and back of hands. BTW I purchased brand name Efudex for 53.00 from a Canadian pharmacy. I know you just can't trust the Canuks. :) http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23981,0.htm NormaGold Tue, 13 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am into day 14 of efudex treatment and am having pain in some of the worst treated areas. My doc prescribed Desonide cream and I want to know if I can use it while I am still applying the efudex if I wait two hours after the efudex application. Thanks http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23787,0.htm puravida Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi,I've read several other e-mails about Efudix treatment for Solar Keratosis. I've been using Efudix for 3 weeks on my forehead and to-date I have a few red areas that are a bit sore but not too bad.I've noticed that in the UK several hospitals have published their patient advice on the internet and that they are not all the same.1. My hospital says use it once a day for 4 to 6 weeks and stop for a few days if it gets sore in the early stages.2. Most other hospitals say use it twice a day and some say intersperse it with hydrocortisone if it gets sore.I've also read trials that say using it twice a day is very effective compared with using it once a week. With my laymans lack of knowledge it appears therefore that it might work with lower doses but it will take longer and might not be as effective. It also says that inflammation is a sign it is working. I will ask my doctor shortly that his recommendation of once a day will do the job as effectively. He's bound to say yes I think.On the instructions with my tube it says don't apply it to an area greater than 9 inches by 9 inches. So those people who are writing to say they are suffering great discomfort, I'm wondering how much they've covered.I started with an area less than 1 inch and then gradually increased it to most of my forehead. It seemed like nothing happened for a week but then it started to get red blotches some of which are looking like they are going to crust. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23694,0.htm pete3080 Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT HiI am new to this board I wanted some information on the protocol for a biopsy for skin cancer. Last Thurs I went to my dermatologist because I had found 4 brown odd shaped birthmarks on my waste  On Thurs the doctor shaved the skin said there is nothing to worry about come back next week and we will biospy the one on my face (It is the size of a needle and greyish black. and I will have a skin cancer screening by a different doctor. On Monday I do that visit the doctor checks out my body say my lab results are not it and wants to do another biopsy next to the one the other doctor did This one required 2 stitches When I asked her why this one was so deep she said that is how she was trained in case the pathologist needs more of the sample. It doesn't sit right with me I dond't like whe two doctors in the same office do things differentlySo I guess my question which is the correct way to do the biopsy Is there one way if they suspect cancer and another way if they don't? I have a total of 4 of these things on my waist will they be biopsying all of them.I am not sure how to find info on this board  but so far it seem that  there is no detail talk  How they were diagnoised what treat pain tolerence pain medication The real deal stuff that the doctors never tell the patients  I find that an informed patient usually does better ...al least for me it works that way I need to know what I will be up against if the results are not good.What is the survival rate for skin cancer are there long term survivorsLaura http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23325,0.htm nerchlejo Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT I've read a lot of messages here and appreciate folks sharing their stories. I'm a 44 yr old male. I'm now 4 days past 19 days of treatment on my face with Carac (supposed to be 21 days but I threw in the towel two days short). I've used a steroid cream given to me by the doctor (Locoid, I think?) for the last 4 days but if anything, appearance and pain are worse.  So I thought I would go today without the Locoid and see what happens.  Does anybody have any experience with this?  Or something else that might speed the healing?  My doc told me I'd be largely back to normal a week after treatment, and that clearly isn't going to happen. Thoughts and suggestions welcomed. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23303,0.htm Outdoors Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT My partner already has an ovarian sarcoma and then a mole on her legchanged & was biopsied and was a kerocanthomous squamous ca. andshe said efudex will get rid of it and surgery would be too complicatedwith graphs required.  She's not an oncologist .  Now after six days, she's dizzy and nauseas.  She's was told to stop the medication fora few days.  I think she should have the surgery by either an oncologistdermatologist or a plastic surgeon.  What is your opinion.  Thisdermatologist claims she can tell if there's danger of spreading...I say she can't.....am I wrong? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23264,0.htm Suncloud Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT hey, im on my 14th day of a 28 day regimen with carac cream.  i happened on this site in my despair while researching this treatment.  my doc didnt prepare me to how painful and ugly a treatment this would be!  ive had 2 BCC and 1SCC removed as well as too many to count AK burned off in the past few years.  im using carac on my face, chest,arms and back and  i  look and feel like a monster!  i hope i can make it thru 28 days.  your message board has given me the emotional support i needed to continue for now.  hearing that there is a light at the end of the tunnel has helped.  right now im living on Advil.   http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23013,0.htm suznj Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Regardless of the location where Efudex is put on the body, is it suppose to target only bad cells, premalignant or malignant, and leave other healthy skin alone?  (No reaction?)I would appreciate an answer from anyone who can help.  I am having a terrible reaction.Thanks, Karrie http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22873,0.htm Karrie Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Regardless of the location where Efudex is put on the body, is it suppose to target only bad cells, premalignant or malignant, and leave other healthy skin alone?  (No reaction?)I would appreciate an answer from anyone who can help.  I am having a terrible reaction.Thanks, Karrie http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22874,0.htm Karrie Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am on day 7 of Efudex to lips with achinic chelilitis.  So far, nothing has happened.  I thought the lips would be really sensitive to this medication, but it doesn't to be at all.  For those of you who have had this condition, and used Efudex, what have your experiences been?  I am at a lost at what to think.Thanks,  Karrie http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22745,0.htm Karrie Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hello, I saw the dermatologist np yesterday as I was concerned about a spot on my nose and eyebrow.  She said that it looked AK and prescribed Efudex and explained how it would react only to the precancerous or cancerous spots. After reading the brochure, looking at the pictures, and reading messages from this board I'm very concerned about how I will look during the treatment. I'm a jh teacher and it would be impossible to be in front of the kids if my face becomes a mess. They will be totally focused on my appearance. Due to other surgeries on various joints from arthritis ( 3 rotator cuff tears), having children, etc. I do not have a lot of sick days accumulated so I can't take time off for the treatment. Is there any other way to diagnose and or treat AK's besides Efudex?  I also have my son's college graduation on 5/11 and I'm to start treatment on 4/10 so I'm worried as to how I will look and its scheduled to take place outdoors too. I also breed horses and am constantly outside etc. I would prefer to wait a month and start after his graduation although that will be tough with the horses. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.Irene http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22664,0.htm sporthorse Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT I'm on my 2nd try (did it last Spring for two weeks) of applying efudex to pinpoint size red spots on my legs. I just finished my six weeks of twice a day application, and the spots only got slightly redder. I spent all last summer with spots all over my legs that never went away, and now I'm facing the same this year. Has anyone else had this happen? I had two SBCC's remove two years ago, but I'm wondering if these are something else. I'm 57, female, and frustrated! http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22645,0.htm kmbutl Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT anyone out there have merkle cell cancer? it is a cancer in the lowest layer of skin where the hair folical lives. those cells are merkle cells, anyone? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22595,0.htm jusykitty Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT I'm on my second round of efudex treatment on some suspicious spots on my lower legs. They just seem to turn red without doing much else. I've finished six weeks and now have little pinpoint red spots showing up in the areas I've treated. Is this normal? After treatment last Spring I spent the whole summer with multuiple red spots on my legs...now they've reacted the same way again. Are they definitely basal cell or AK's? I'm very depressed and discouraged. Any feedback would be appreciated.  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22557,0.htm kmbutl Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT My doctor prescribed efudex for a small lesion of my face that was hard to see. I used it on my whole face, and I was really surprised to see my whole face break out like a bad case of measles. Now I am near day 14 of a 2x/day for 21 days treatment. I have to go to work, and I was wondering if anyone used a powder cover up, and would that affect the treatment.....good luck to anyone else going through this! Liz http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22503,0.htm lizbbb Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT I used Carac for 14 days, once a day, as prescribed by me dermatologist. About 4 days after my last treatment my face started to peel. This lasted for 5 days. After that, my face went from very red to slightly pink, (which it still is).  The date of my last treatment was Friday, Feb 29. So it's been about 4 weeks and my face is still pink in the areas where I applied the Carac. For those who used Carac on your face, how long did it take before the pinkness completely faded ? Brian  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22447,0.htm bfoley Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT My husband and I are using efudex.  Our doctor told us that we can now use sunscreen, when we couldn't when we used it 10 yrs ago.  A friend just finished her treatment and her doctor told her not to use sunscreen or anything but cetaphil face wash and a pertroleum based cream.  It seems to have changed a bit in the last 10 years since we first used it.  Any updates out there that can enlighten us? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22301,0.htm rancherinthesun Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am on day 7 of carac and so far look just very sunburnt and have some pain.   I am a master swimmer and don't want to give this up. I have been using sunblock  but i'm not sure if this will hamper my cure or maybe delay the scabbing ?  Does anyone else swim and has it helped or hurt you?  Thanks http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,22267,0.htm LAKESIDE Sun, 23 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT 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 treatmenthttp://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 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,21969,0.htm warriorgirl111 Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Has anyone else bin told to use carac only 3 days a week 1x per day for 1 month.This is what i was told to do and this is my 4th time in 1 year 3 months i am fair skined and have so many aks that the ones you can see some times scab and then all other turn red my arms allways look purpley red brown splochy http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,21850,0.htm peanut46 Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT My dermatologist wants me to start using carac after having just one basal cell skin cancer removed on my face.  My history (I lived in Africa as a child)  and my blonde hair and pale skin make him feel that it will recurr.  Any ideas for or against? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,21828,0.htm tillie Sun, 09 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT (I also updated my earlier discussion - "Arms healing very slow...:) For the past four days my arms finally have "healed".  The open scabs and sores have closed up and I've been able to wear clothing  on my arms without burning or using steroid cream for pain.  WOW!  Never expected (nor did my doc) that I would have such side effects and intense reaction to the flourouracil.  This is strong chemo.I did 5-FU twice a day for 28 days on both arms and hands.  It has taken 6 weeks to heal over the open raw skin.  Still a few deep scabs, doc says are the serious areas and most likely BBC or worse, and redness will take another month or more to fade.  Doc says I cleared up perhaps more than 100 AKs and prevented cancers, but what a severe treatment.  Some posted that their doc recommends doing this once a year??? No way.  Mine actually said perhaps every 5 or 6 years maybe.Hopefully they will develope the Dimericine type drugs quickly through the trials so folks won't have to endure this suffering.  Anyway, good luck to the rest of you in treatment! I'll be following the discussions. And I'll now be appreciating all of you who comply with full treatments and you'll have my admiration for your endurance!Whitey Here are photos for comaprison4 weeks after 4 weeks 5-FU:http://i26.tinypic.com/2nlgspl.jpg 6 weeks after:http://i26.tinypic.com/17tvnm.jpg http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,21802,0.htm whitey1 Sat, 08 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT This is day 17 applying Efudex 2x day and i'm beginning to think my Dr. misdiagnosed me dispite the two BCC i've had removed.  I still have no reaction.  The spots on my legs are doing nothing?  I have a couple of "pink" spots that have come up on my arms and legs but nothing more?  I'm only supposed to do this for 21 days.  I would have thought I would have more reaction.  I am wondering if these spots could be something else?Tanya http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,21631,0.htm tanyaec Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT  had a squamous cell skin cancer over my eyebrow about two years ago. My dermatologist successfully removed it via Moh's surgery but she gave me a stern warning that I would grow more cancers if I did not follow a course of treatment to remove the extensive sun damage from my scalp, face & neck. To make a long story short I embarked on a protocol of using Efudex 5% in January 2008 on my scalp and forehead. Both areas turned bright red over two weeks and eventually crusted and flaked off and the new skin underneath was like I was 30 years old(I'm 64). There was pretty good discomfort but nothing compared to the discomfort I had treating  the remainder of my face in the last couple of weeks. I was supposed to use Efudex twice a day for two weeks or 28 applications. I got through 25 applications and just could not take any more of the severe burning sensation I was suffering from. My dermatologist told me to get an over the counter tube of cream called Aquafor made by Eucerin(they make a lot of over the counter skin care products) The relief provided by Aquafor was unbelieveably fast and thorough and I highly recommend it to anyone who has just finished Efudex therapy. Do not use Aquafor during the period you are applying Efudex because it will interfere with what Efudex is supposed to do. But 12 hours after finishing your last Efudex application put on Aquafor and you'll be truly amazed by the almost total relief you will experience. Also my dermatologist advised me to wash the area Efudex is applied to with a bacteria fighting soap twice a day to prevent small infections from forming in some of the treated skin. After washing the area apply Aquafor for almost total relief from pain!! http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,21627,0.htm goguff Tue, 04 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT