rtaylor1963

Carac will not burn normal cells.  That's the beauty of it.  However, it is chemotherapy.  You don't want it to touch anywhere that you're not treating.  It is recommended to treat small areas of the body one at a time so you don't overwhelm your skin with chemicals.  ie: forearms, then upper face, then lower face.  Don't worry.  You're not wearing a combustible chemical around that will harm your family.  Just don't get it everywhere and you'll be fine.
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mmmm, sorry, not sure about this . . .  some of the places where it went on too large of an area left scar tissue just the size of the application of cream and that was larger than the spot of AK I was treating. (I got sloppy on some places and forgot and scratched an itch on others during treatment.)

Also, my oncologist said NOT to go in the sun with it on, as it increases sunburn risk.

 

Bridget, Do you have anywhere for us to read more about it? Where did you get your info.? Not challanging you, just stating what I've noticed and what I was told . . .  Always looking for more info.

I DO KNOW that the 5Fu they developed this from is extremely harmful to all skin cells, healthy or no, and that's why it wasn't given thru an arm vein in '89, but thru a catheter that was surgically implanted into my chest. I was told it caused great damage if it seeped out of the vein, and that the resulting scar tissue sometimes caused the arm vein to close up.

    yuk

 

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Barb,

Are you still around?  I finished my Carac on the 4th of April. Pretty good size sores on the underside of my nose between the nostril.  Worried about scc again.  Told the doctor and they said they wanted to see that so I am on a waiting list.  I would think the carac would not have stuck to it so hard if it was not a concern and then after it attacked that area I remembered a sore that would not heal for months.  Worried again.  There is not much tissue there to work with.  Man I wonder if the crap ever slows down...  I keep trying to hang in there.  I was hoping that the carac maybe slowed it down.  I wonder about using it there at night some more until I see them again.  I don't think it could hurt.  There was a woman on this site that offered some advice as she was a mohs technician and I can't remember who it is but I would love to ask her about this area of skin as it is thread bare...  Hope all is well with you... 

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Hey, I'm the mohs tech you were talking to before.  Glad you've been able to complete your carac treatment.  If you have a sore that won't heal, you always should have your derm look at it.  I understand that most dermatologists have long waiting lists, but if you tell them that you have a painful sore on your nose that is raw and bleeding they will have to get you in.  Ask to speak with a nurse if the front desk people can't accomodate.  Some offices keep a cancellation list (which it sounds like you're on) and some have emergency openings.  You may also try going to the office in person and showing them the spot you're concerned with.  Most derm nurses (if they have a brain in their head) can look at a lesion and tell whether it's urgent or not.  It's worth a shot.

 

 

Apparently this is a controversial subject on this site, but Carac does not attack healthy cells.  It is not like the 5FU that is injected intravenously in high does for internal cancers.  It is reformulated and it is much milder than the true "chemo" version.  If you have a spot that is reacting (red, raw, sore) then there were atypical cells there.  That does not mean that these cells were cancerous or precancerous - just that they are atypical, not normal.  Carac will attack cells even if they are just a little bit weird.  If you have a lot of sun damage on your face, your whole face might react to Carac because those "damaged" cells are recognized as atypical.  Once you finish with carac and any further treatment you may need, you might ask about getting on Retin-A or any tretinoin product.  It makes your skin cells turn over faster and helps keep the AKs at bay.  But keep in mind that it won't treat the ones you already have.

 

Bridget

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