CancerCompass message board discussion started by sawyerz on 9/13/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,16131,0.htm Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I have been reading the boards and I REALLY don't want to start this treatment.  I am 49 blonde/fair skinned and have had 2 spots on my face burned off.  I went to a Derm Doc today and just wanted this new AK burned off and he said no he wanted me to use the Carac.  It sounds terrible and I don't have any idea why he just could not have just burned like my other doc (I moved to another state) did.  I have a spot by my eye and some tiny bumps on my forehead/scalp line.  My sis is an ob/gyn oncologist and she said it is a very low dose and my doc wants me to use it for "only" 10 days...Don't know what to do..I just want to call and have it burned off..any suggestions would be much appreciated sawyerz Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT I have been using .5 Carac for 14 day and I have 14 more to go. I am not sure how much 10 days will do for you. The normal course is 4 weeks. I to had a few spots on my forehead but as my skin responded to the Cream it has really effected my nose and cheek area more than my forehead. I am looking pretty bad right now but I am glad I am doing it if it will prevent further surgeries on my face. I think that you should give it some serious thought and maybe get a second opinion. Finding the right Deramatologist is soooooo important. Please look at my web site as I am documenting my progression with Carac. jimbo61 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT Your Dermo probably subscribed a topical flourouracil treatment because it will do a much more comprehensive job than just freezing the clinically obvious AK lesions. Your dermo probably thinks you also have a number of sub-clinical lesions that he cannot see to zap with liquid nitrogen.Over the past 15 years or so, I have been prescribed  Efudex (twice), Carac (currently), and Aldara/Imiquimod (once).  I have a lot of recurring damage (forehead, cheeks, & nose) from years of too much sun abuse, both as a kid and an adult. Each time, a large number of areas react that had nothing obviously wrong prior to the start of treatment. I think each of these areas represent(ed) sub-clinical lesions that would have eventually required treatment. My current treatment regime is prescribed for only two weeks, once a day. I plan to make my own decision after the second week if I am going to continue it for another week. I would much prefer to "bite the bullet" for another week or two and do a good job cleaning things up than having to do this again sooner than later. My face certainly looks frightening but I can deal with the discomfort.I guess everything has some humor to it. It is also almost amusing to sit in a meeting at work and see people looking at the mess on my face but not have the guts to ask about it. RhoXS Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT