Efudex, Aldara and Other Skin Cancer Topical Chemo Creams

Yes, it is recommended to use suncreen while using aldara at all times.  My derm also discussed with me  the ease of using makeup to coverup lesions from aldara as opposed to effudex,  which causes scabbing.

I don't think it is Russian roulette.. everybody is different in how they react to the treatment..I used Aldera for 4 months ,I must admit it wasn't the nicest experience I have ever had but It looks like now that the black scabs have all gone all my skin has to to is heal from the redness from being raw. I am happy that that part is over with now I have to deal with my nose  and hopefully same thing will happen and I can get back to being me again,also the vulva is a much more sensitive area just dab small amount on

Skin cancer is as my derm said from a lack of using sunscreens and basking in the sun or using the tanning salons.As I told him when we were young it was baby oil and iodine and that basically cooked our skin~~even after so many terrible burns it took me until my late 20's early 30's to smarten up, although I used it for my kids I never put it on religiously....The derms do as much as as best the can to treat everyone and hopefully help them with thier problem I hope this helps you~~~if you have aldera USE it I am not sorry at all and I didn't have much problems ohhh maybe a tiny bit of hair loss but that I think was because I was on it for so long it is basically a chem tratment by cream..Good Luck!

I have treated literally hundreds of squamous cell in situ skin cancers and actinic keratosis with Aldara with great success.  There are a very few people who will have severe reactions to using Aldara topically, but generally when someone has a severe systemic reaction this happens for one of two reasons. 1. They apply the entire package of Aldara to a single small skin lesion when with most small lesions a single packet contains enough medicine for 8-12 applications. Just take a bit of tape and close up the packet to save the remainder until time for the next treatment. (2) People can have a severe reaction if they get any Aldara on a mucous membrane or inside the edge of their nose or in their eye. In this situation Aldara can rarely cause flulike symptoms caused by a cytokine cascade creating temporary high levels of interferons, ILs and NKCells that causes the flulike symptoms. This can be a little scary but unless you stick an entire packet up your nose you will quickly recover. Some tylenol or ibuprofen will make you feel better if this should happen to you. Also call your Dr.

I think Aldara is a miracle drug compared to having to get repeated excisions of skin cancers. I also like being able to tell if a lesion is probably malignant due to the reaction created by applying Aldara. If there is no reaction then the lesion is not likely to be skin cancer but something else. Then you need a biopsy to find out what is going on. In my personal experience Aldara works better on SCC than on BCC. There is a learning curve to figuring out how best to use Aldara and I am sure there arer plenty of Drs who do a poor job of telling the patient what to expect, but once you figure out how to properly use this medicine it can save you a lot of cutting and scars plus you can treat small lesions as soon as you suspect a skin cancer rather than having to wait for an excision and the pathologist report.

Dear Anonymous,

Your description of Aldara is perfect.  I had Mohs surgery on my scalp for a squamous cell in situ.  After the Mohs surgury I used Aldara for some actinic keratosis.  The first four weeks nothing after five weeks the Aldara started to work. The last weeks of my Aldara treatment were rough but three weeks after I finished my treatments my skin was smooth and clear.  I am confident I could have beaten the squamous cell in situ skin cancer without the Mohs surgery but the Aldara was not mentioned.  To anyone with a skin problem go on the internet and learn about your problem and choices and talk to your doctor.  I wish I did research before any choice.

I just began it last night and am very glad to see your note here.  Thanks and it gives me hope that I won't come out of this horrified.

I went through this nine years ago. The pain is no fun. I used the petroleum jelly even around the opening.  The best way I found to insert the applicator with all the raw flesh is that I put just a little bit of lubricant on the tip  of the applicator, put one foot up on the toilet seat and inserted it as fast as I could. 

After all is said and done, it wasn't fun but I have not had one irregular pap since, and I battled cancer for years, had a hysterectomy, went through interferon injections, laser and I finally got relief after this treatment.

Efudex is a dangerous product with serious complications.  http://www.getoomph.com/pdfs/EfudexPatientBrochure.pdf Read page three of this link and you will see that the company warns against intravaginal use due to vaginal necrosis, ulcerarations, and other local reactions.  I can personally tell you that it does not target bad cells.  It affects and kills every cell that it comes in contact with.  I can see where it is entirely capable of sealing off a vaginal opening.  The best thing you can do is keep vaseline or neosporin on the affected area.  Once all the tissue is killed off, the body's natural healing process will seal together raw tissue.  I personally underwent this treatment without a full understanding of how much damage it would do.  It caused me to suffer from intense pain and swelling due chemical vaginitis.  I also have suffered from chemically induced cystitis according to the cystoscope performed by my Urologist.  EVERYONE should know that this drug is so dangerous that the FDA gave it their Box Warning:High Alert Medication: "The Institute for Safe Medication Practices includes this medication among its list of drugs which have a heightened risk of causing significant patient harm when used in error."  This is copied from the Merck Manual website. This drug is supposed to administered as a last option and only by a physician trained in the safe use of this drug. I began treatment intravaginally in February and I am still suffering greatly.  Never trust a doctor who tells ou that even though the box says specifically NOT FOR INTRAVAGINAL USE, that they know what they are doing and it is perfectly safe.  It is not safe!  That is why all these warnings are posted on the internet.  Click on this link to find out about studies on the success rate of this treatment.  The study shows that folks on placebo had a higher recovery rate than those on Efudex intravaginally.  Why?  Most likely the weakened tissue was more susceptble to dysplasia/virus cells.   http://www.hindawi.com/getarticle.aspx?doi=10.1155/s1064744999000319     

I am in week 4 of efudex treatment for vaginal dysplasia and, like you, have had no problems.  Did you apply petroleum jelly before insertion of the cream or after or just when you had any burning.  If I get a tinge of burning upon urination, find that if I drink lots of water I do not have it.  Just curious if you are still having normal colposcopies or have any problems recurred?

I used efudex a few months ago with no results--good or bad. But wanted suggest that if you have a tight or narrow vagina, you might want to ask your MD about using a vaginal dialator. My vagina was extremely tight (due in part, and most unfortunately, to lack of use) which resulted in very painful gyn exams. So finally my gyn/oncolgy MD gave me an extra small and a small vaginal dialator. Having worked my way up to the small size, I now find that the use of the small speculum is no longer painful (never mind the biopsies and other insults to my integrity). I hope that this will be of help.

Lisa

Jimbo61,

Im on 9th day of Carac tonight.  I wanted to get on your site of talk to you here because I tried to get on you skin journey site and it would not let me.  I hope you reply.. I have questions.

Hi Rhonda,

Sorry I took my site down to work on other issues.  I would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.  My email is Jfoster1961@msn.com

My best,

Jim 

Have your Dr prescribe you some 5% Lidocaine ointment and then alternate using the Lidocaine ointment a few hours before or after using the Aldara. This will take care of the pain.

if your drem. doctor is good i would go with mohs. i have had it 12 times on my nose and the first 5 mohs you couldnt even tell it. but now i'm getting ready to the aldara and efudex.

I began aldara three weeks ago, I have taken breaks during that time when I did not use it, and now I have stopped forever.  I had a tiny cancer on my  chest so small that even the dermatologists really didn't know where it was.  But I really didn't want the surgery, so thought that using aldara was the perfect answer.  Now I am so sorry that I let anyone do anything, my whole upper chest is a mass of open sores, I'm putting neoporesporin on it, I have to cover it during the day, it bleeds and sticks to my shirt, I leave it exposed at night, but it doesn't seem to be healing.  I'm 76 years old, have arthritis, but am otherwise healthy.  Do you have any advice for me?  I see my primary Dr. in a week, and the dermatologist who prescribed this in two weeks.  I'm so sorry that I ever used this ---I was fine before...thanks for your help.

just to clarify, because I've also started Aldara: are you only putting it on the tiny cancer spot on your chest + 1 cm around and seeing this crazy result, or are you rubbing the stuff into a large area???

You are correct. Most people who have problems with Aldara either do not receive proper instruction beforehand or are not told that the skin lesion to be treated can get real ugly before it heals. I have treated numerous squamous cell skin cancers on my forearms that were about the size of an eraser tip before starting Aldara treatment but they reacted so strongly to the Aldara that within a couple weeks it made a big crusty scabby sore about an inch in size. The good news is that when you have a big reaction like this it means your immune system is reacting strongly to destroy the cancer and once you have a significant reaction going on for about a month you can just quit treating with the Aldara and let the lesion heal up. It may take a month or longer for the scabby crust to heal and the scab to fall off but then the skin heals properly and without scarring.

It does take some getting used to seeing this big scabby sore on yourself but you have to trust that the medicine will work and for me it almost always does and always heals up if given enough time. There are a few basal cells or squamous cells that for whatever reason will not respond completely or quickly enough - within 2 - three month courses of Aldara and then I go ahead and have the remaining lesions surgically excised but most of the time the Aldara works just fine, often in a month or less rather than the predicted 2-3 months of therapy.

Your response was perfect.  I have used Aldara and I wish I read this web sit before doing anything.  The scab that occurs means the Aldara is working for you.  Research and using any product the correct way is the key.

I am a 52 year old woman who has been active all my life, surfing and horse back riding with lots of sun exposure.

I had a BCC on my lip for years and treated it with Aldara and Efudex, I don't think I did the treatment correctly and the BCC never went away only got larger.  I had Mohs surgery done in late November '08 and am still recovering from it.  It was very traumatic and I was unaware that I would have stitches starting from the side of my nose to the corner of my mouth.  My surgeon did a fantastic job, but I still have swelling and some discoloration.  I am currently being treated with a Vbeam to remove the redness.  The good news is that BCC is gone, the bad news is I am not completely back to normal still having numbness and swelling along with the discoloration.

Since the surgery, two smaller BCC's have surfaced, my surgeon, wants to remove them with Mohs surgery (again), my dermatologist wants to treat less aggressivily.  From reading the comments on this site, I want to try the creams instead of surgery,  With Mohs there would definitely be huge scars, one is under my eye and the other on the right side of my nose.  I can't bear to go through the surgery again and I am very scared. 

From reading other's results using the cream, I will give it a try and be extremely diligent with the directions on how to use it correctly.  Any comments would be appreciated.

I'm also 52 and was diagnosed with BCC on my nose (top and towards tip) almost 8 weeks ago now. Have been using Aldara 3X week as prescribed by my dermatologist (He said to use a very small amount...that more is NOT better. He also warned me that it would eventually look 'hideous' for a while, but that that was better than the alternative.) Well, I've had no side effects at all other than itchiness (tolerable) and a slight burning nights I use it. My doctor was right- it looks absolutely hideous and for the past 2 weeks I try to just go to work and not run too many errands as I'm very self-conscious about it. My 8 weeks is up this Sunday and I go back to the dermatologist this coming Tuesday. If the Aldara has worked, it will have been worth it...much better than a scar (and I'm hoping this big ol' scabby thing doesn't leave a scar...)! Good luck and remember to use a SMALL amount-

I've used Aldara and Efudex for 'Years' due to having Gorlin-Goltz Syndrome = Hundreds of Basal Cell Carcinoma's all over my body. If you 'Use as DIRECTED' you will not have problems UNLESS you're 'Allergic to the product' like any other product or food, etc. It's life folks! I know of people who 'Used TOO MUCH Aldara, when they were told to use A VERY SMALL AMOUNT, like the end of a Ball Point Pen! People do not listen and do it there own way, think using MORE is better (it is not - ever) and suffer the consequences. Creams are better than surgery! Duh! You will have 'some minor redness for months. Maybe even years. Slight. Unless you're a Narcissist don't worry the redness is very minor. I use to have perfect skin, but played tennis 8 hours a day for 30 years and surfed and ran on the beach daily, where I grew up. I am loaded with SKIN CANCER NOW! Plus, I had no idea this rare skin cancer 'Genetic Problem' runs in my family. My God. Use the Cream when you can. Far better than surgery or freezing. Cryosurgery leaves permanent 'scarring too' The pigment of skin is forever damaged. USE THE DAMN CREAMS AS DIRECTED AND ALMOST ALL PATIENTS WILL BE FINE. 24 years of experience telling you this! Former Semi-Pro tennis Player - Malibu, Calif.

I am using Cara for warts on my hands and after 1.5 weeks, I see noticable areas where the wart disappeared. Carac is great for these. I use quite a generous amount and put gloves on, then go to sleep. I tried Aldara on one hand and it is vicious. It eats away at the wart leaving an ugly sore. Must not use too much at a time, and stop if the sore is getting bad.

If your doctor is prescribing this for use on 27 BCC or ANY skin cancer 'You should consider changing dermatologists'. My God, this is insane! It is NOT for use on 'More than 'One REGION at a time'. You are putting so much TOXIN in you it is funny. 'Of course, it'll take longer to get them ALL but, using this on so many (27) at one time is 'Not the right treatment Regiment/Protocol'. Call 3M and ask them. NOW! and then get a 'Second Opinion' ASAP. ALDARA ON 27 BCC ALL AT ONCE??? I cannot believe I just read this! I am sick over it.....CALL ANOTHER DERM ASAP.

PLUS, WITH SO MANY BCC (YES, I HAVE HAD HUNDREDS AND HAVE BEEN FIGHTING BCC'S FOR 24 YEARS, SO YES, I DO KNOW. I'VE HAD 34 DERMS AND MD'S) YOU SHOULD TRY 'A COMBINATION OF THERAPIES' AS I AM....PHOTO-DYNAMIC THERAPY, ALDARA, EFUDEX, MOHS (WHEN NECESSARY), CRYOSURGERY, AND MORE....YOU NEED TO READ AL YOU CAN AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. IT IS YOUR BODY! 'KNOWLEDGE IS POWER' AND IT MIGHT JUST SAVE YOUR LIFE.....27? I cannot believe you're applying aldara to ALL of them!

I've used cymillium, but not with much success. I have now undergone one Moh's on my face and am using Aldara on my chest. Check out topicalinfo.org for lots of great info on these and many other alternative skin cancer treatments. Especially check the forums for many personal experiences. Good luck and God bless.