After Aldara Treatment

Written by

Tue, July 03, 2007

Hi,

I found that a large scaly place on my right cheek was Squamous Cell Cancer on May 8th. Because of the large size my doctor wanted to try Aldara for one month. I applied it three time a week. I stopped on June 13th and visited the doctor on the 19th. He was well pleased with how it looked. It was very red with a large tan scab down the middle. He told me to keep it clean with soap and water. The area is dry and still scaly, most of the scab is gone, but the red area is spreading. Has anyone here used this for Squamous Cell? Should this red area be getting larger?

Thank you for reading this. I look forward to some feedback.

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anne broughton

7/15/07 7:36pm

i have a really bad case of this type od cancer.It covers both arms and a lot of areas on my legs. I have had 8 surgeries done, but due too such a large area all over arms and legs i dont know what too do anymore The dr. gave me aldara and it made one place so bad and scarred i will never use it again. I felt sick a lot also. I have also used the chemo cream but it gets all over my body and is extremely painful. I would say that the red patch on your cheek will probably not go away but hopefully it will. Has anyone ever sc all over there body and if so what procedure did your dr. follow. Does anyone know of any experiment trials going on? I never thought i would get anything like this because i have dark hair and skin that rarekt burns,

gailblu

8/ 8/07 9:25pm

Have you had most of the body biopsied to make sure it isn't excma (sp) or schirrosis, or some other skin complaint?

And using Aldara all over the body doesn't seem to me, to be a really healthy idea (Especially for SCC!)

Can you see another doctor?

I seriously would be getting another opinion.

jennifer

7/31/07 2:01pm

It's my understanding that Aldara should be used for 6 -12 weeks. If the red spot is still growing you should definitely get that checked out. One issue with topical treatments is that you can't be sure the cancer is actually gone. I'd suggest getting a 2nd opinion at this point and definitely get proactive about this. If you ever have to have surgery, make sure you use a MOHS practitioner.

P.S. I've been using Aldara for about a month and it has made the AKs on my face burn, itch, and ooze. Apparently this is normal and good, but it's been pretty brutal.

Cassy

8/ 5/07 10:35pm

SCC cases are usually delt with by surgical excision and Mohs (mapping surgical technique sparring healthy tissue) surgery being the best 5 year data available. Aldara has been used "off label" for this indication with success and each dermatologist may have a different approach. Some will dose Aldara 3x weekly (M,W,F) for one month while many will go aggressive and use daily for 2-4 weeks or until area is crusting or scabbing. The goal with the drug is to reach the immune system which triggers an immune response resulting in T-cells and cytokines activated to the disease site. It looks uglier than it feels, but to have your immune system address the cancer and possibly clear it is the ideal way - IF surgery is not 1st choice. Talk to more than one dermatologist.

gailblu

8/ 8/07 9:18pm

ALDARA is just for treating actinic keratosis (AK's) and superficial BBC's, that I know of.

I would certainly be getting a 2nd opinion.

Especially if you have had it biopsied and it has come back as a SCC!

Rachel

4/14/08 6:53pm

I have used Aldara twice for Squamous Cell Carcinoma - the early form that they called "Bowen's Disease". Once for my forehead, and once for my nose. Both times the medicine was successful. I had some scabbing & bleeding during treatment, but that eventually went away and the skin was healthier than it was in my 20s. Over the course of the treatment, different red spots came and went. My doctor said that was normal.

After 12 weeks, my doctor biopsied the healthy looking skin just to be sure, and it was indeed cancer-free.

Good luck to you.

kathy

4/ 9/10 1:03pm

I have used aldara for years. My doctor didn't even waste a second doing the MOHS surgery though when she discovered i had Squamous Cell Carcinoma. I'd had a lot of pre cancer and Basil Cell spots, that I'd had frozen off or cut off and biopsied. I even had 3 Fraxel Laser procedures done. I would never recommend to any one to get this done for cancer treatment. It was an awful experience and it was after that experience that i got the Squamous cell Carcinoma. I had it on the side of my nose. I have a scar that runs from the area under the inner corner of my eye to almost the bottom of the side of my nose for a cancer spot that was the size of a pimple.

I just finished using aldara again on the entire T-Zone. The entire nose area and across the cheeks and under the nose. My doctor saw a suspicious area and suggested I treat the entire nose. The area she was concerned about didn't flair up, but the remaining area became so inflamed that I went to see her out of fear and she said it was working the way it should. I continued with the Aldara and was in such pain and the itching kept me up all night. I'd never had such open sore areas before and I have used aldara a number of times in the past. I am also on a medication for a month to keep from getting a bacterial infection, because the scabbing was so painful to clean around. I stopped using the Aldara after 4 weeks and she wanted me to use it for 6. She suggested using Aquaphor, made by Eucerine, during the day for itching. It only works just after you first put it on, then the itch comes back. I couldn't even stand the shower water to hit my face, lightly, it stung so bad. All Aquaphor is, is an expensive vasaline. The best thing you can use after you stop the Aldara is BIAFINE. It's a prescription med, costing about $30.00. You apply it to the skin. Use it religiously after You finish your Aldara treatments. If, and I mean IF, I ever use Aldara again, I will never treat such a large area on my face. I missed out on my granson's birthday, weeks of bowling on my league, Easter etc. I couldn't leave the house. You can't wear make-up and you are not supposed to bandage it. I would have had to wear a surgical mask to cover the entire area i was treating. I saw one person other than family during weeks of treatment, and he couldn't even look at me while he talked to me. It looked that bad!

Now I have to call my doctor and tell her I stopped using the Aldara and see what she says to do next. My husband wants me to get a second opinion. It looks like I may have burns now. This whole process has been so miserably painful. By the way, the worst area on my face this time was where I'd had the MOHS surgery over a year ago. I know I will never be rid of skin cancer as long as I live. All because I wanted to be tanned. LIVE AND LEARN ! But, now that you know better, remember it's your body and you need second opinions.

Cardinal

4/10/10 10:40pm

Hi.

I have MUCH compassion on you for what you have been through. I understand the feelings you have experienced. Please read how GOD healed my SCC by directing me to a cream (PERRINS BLEND). My cancer had already made its way to the dermis!

I praise HIM that I never had to have surgery and/or radiation.

My name is "Rose Petal" on Topicalinfo.org. God bless.

http://www.topicalinfo.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=563

http://www.perrinsproducts.com/Perrin_s_Blend.html

After Aldara Treatment

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