Hi - I have recently been diagnosed with wide spread skin cancer and I am currently undergoing various treatments for this.

First a little background and then my questions... I have 16 confirmed skin cancers, BCC & SCC. Out of these 16 I have already had 5 surgically removed, 2 mohs and 3 regular incisions, due to the size and type. I have had 1 SCC in situ treated with a scrape and burn. My Dr. is giving me options with the remaining 11, those options being scrape and burns or incisions. I have no problem having the ED&C's performed on the very small SCC in situ's and the small BCC's, however I have two larger superficial BCC's, one that has been on my thigh for probably 5 years (1 1/2 cm in size) and the other on my side which is 2 cm in size and appeared and grew rapidly within this last year (within a few months time frame). I am also being treated with Efudex on my chest, stomach, and other spot areas to see what it will clear up and what she needs to address (the areas being treats with the Efudex are NOT confirmed skin cancer but look like the other confirmed lesions and are reacting to the cream). All this being said, here are my questions:

1. I have read that the ED&C procedure should only be performed on lesions smaller than 1-2 cm. As mine are 1 1/2 cm & 2 cm, would removing them surgically be the better option? My Dr. is giving me both options and I want to make the best decision so that I am not treating them again in the future.

2. Should I be using Efudex on such large areas as I am, when skin cancer has NOT been confirmed in these areas?

3. She is having me use the cream 2x a day for 28 days. I have read that anything less than 6 weeks is really not effective and actually 12 weeks is recommended (not that anyone could go on with it for that long - it's horrible!)

3. Is the fact that my entire chest and certain areas on my stomach are reacting to the Efudex a sign that I am covered with skin cancer that I could not previously see?

Any insight or feedback you can give me would be very much appreciated. I like my Dr. and I trust her, however she is not the best communicator. I am only 40 years old and want to make sure that I getting the proper treatment. I realize that your advice can't and won't be taking the place of hers, I just believe that the more knowledge and info I have, the better questions I will be able to ask her.

Thank you.