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Nodge
0 Posts |
 Posted - 07/24/2012 : 23:18:51
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| I have my tube of Efudex. Now just need to work up the courage to get started! Scary posts on this forum. You may be interested to know the cost of it here in New Zealand. $3 for the 20g tube! (Must be highly subsidized by the government.) |
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Jackie
1 Posts |
Posted - 08/02/2012 : 22:43:24
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I have just completed 14 days x2 daily on my nose and cheeks. I will have to do my forehead and chin area another time (when the fresh memories are gone  )
I wish I could have done the whole face at once but have been advised only to do small sections. Even doing 14 days was extremely difficult. People must react differently to the medication. I think I reacted quickly and the results were what someone else may have experienced after 3 weeks. In the end I was putting cream on top of layers of scabby skin. The only area that didn't react to the cream was a small section either side of my ears. I ended up with about 15 great big sores as well as red raw skin across the rest of my face.
I did my nose first before a week later deciding to go acrooss the whole middle section of my face so my nose has had a week of healing. I am fortunate I decided to do that at the end of week 1 because at the end of week 2 I would have taken a break and not treated any other area for a while. I will wait to see how long I take to get back to normal before I schedule my next section.
My nose, after one week, has lost all its scabs and layers of dead skin. It is shiny and red but smooth. I can see where the deep sores were as they are now a darker shade of red. I may end up having an uneven skin tone but I had freckles before and beginning to get a few brown spots (age spots my doc said). I don't think I will have any freckles left on the skin I have treated. They were quite pale anyway from years of wearing suncream. The problem is the years of not and the severe sun burns throughtout my life.
I was amazed by how many I had that I did not know. I knew of one on the end of my nose and one on my cheek and one on ear (my GP said to use efudix on it like a spot treatment - lucky I read that it is better to do a section or I would have missed the ones that were waiting to show themselves!!)
My cheeks are the sorest. It has only been two days since I stopped using the cream. The skin on top is a colour that is difficult to describe. It was an orange colour from the fluid that came out of the sores after applying the cream but now it is like a grey colour I suppose and under it is broken bleeding skin in places. I am using an antibiotic cream that I had already in the cupboard. I am using it on the areas that are bleeding. I am no longer using it once the skin closes over like on my nose. I am paranoid about getting an infection in the open skin. Then I am using paw paw ointment as a moisturiser simply because it is what I have in the cupboard.
If the red disappears quickly then I will do my forehead as soon as it does. My chin can wait until next winter and I may actually take some time off to do that area. I think it will be worse than the middle of my face. I wish I had done my whole face at once cause now I have to go through this again!!
I am so proud of myself. I think this process is tiring both physically and emotionally. I have had to draw on my sense of self worth and put aside the stares and even laughs and pointing from teenage boys (let's face it they are experiencing their own emotional torment at the moment so I forgive them). Though my tolerance has reached its end. I have worked every day during this experience and dropped kids off to school and shopped and the list goes on. Right now I don't want to see a single person every again until I am all healed (but I will). I have a little cry, pick myself up and continue on.
I have learnt that I place significant importance on the way I look (like others I guess or they wouldn't stare). It has been a humbling experience and even though I knew I was strong what I have learnt is that it is my own attachment to looks that caused me the greatest pain. I have a girlfriend who lives daily with a birth defect that affects her face and people stare. She is strong and positive and outgoing and she is my hero. If I can't suck up a month or so of looking like this then I do not deserve to walk next to her in the street.
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alanmowle
1 Posts |
Posted - 08/20/2012 : 09:10:04
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I am in the UK where medicines are free if over the age of 65. I started my Efudix over 4 weeks ago with a 40gram tube, this costs the Pharmacist to buy into the Pharmacy £36.80 the Dispensing costs have then to be added and the 'buying in' costs, generally the UK is considered a low cost area for medicines, the Mexico price at $40 for 40grams seems too cheap to be true? I am lucky in that most of my needs are on the top of my bald head,however my right ear is completely scabbed up and very vascular and bleeds easily, so I do not sleep on that side, I made a mistake and applied some cream to my left ear and 3 small spots have come up there and bleed, on hindsight I would leave one ear alone, I am a former RN but never seen Efudix (That is the MEDO trade name in the UK) in action.
quote:
Originally posted by deruo
bobw - My first 40g tube lasted me about 3 weeks. I'm putting it on my scalp, forehead, rest of face, and a small spot on my shoulder, twice a day.
I think thats quite a bit of skin! I'm not sure if we're allowed to direct to other websites here but here goes: efudexed.blogspot.com . It's a blog I started, like others, in hopes of helping patients get an idea of what to expect. You can see my mug in all its' glory there. If the link gets removed, PM me and I'll send it to you that way.
It takes a couple of days to get the hang of it, the consistency in my first tube was much thicker than my second (which has a longer expiration date). I'm doing it to give everything a very thin layer. I didn't think my first tube was going to last until day 15 but I managed to squeeze enough out until day 21 or so.
My second tube expiration date is January 2013 and the consistency of the product is almost like a lotion. Goes on very easily.
Those prices in Mexico, although cheaper than the US, seem more expensive than Canada. My 40g tube at Costco here in Canada was just under 40.00 Canadian. There are a number of online pharmacies where you can buy "Canadian" drugs cheaper, and have them delivered to you in the US. You need a prescription but certainly cheaper than buying through US based pharmacies. For example, I found 1 online site where a 40g tube of Efudex was $79.00.
Charging $300.00 a tube for this stuff is criminal.
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Kite girl
2 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2012 : 07:29:50
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Hi There.
Doc has prescribed efudex for two weeks on my lips For two weeks, once a day at night. Lots of sun history growing up and live in the Caribbean. A few big lesions and lots of burns. I was told to treat a year ago but did not. Oops. I chose Efudex over Aldara after reading the side effects of Aldara, and the doc said it is faster acting than Aldara, which is important because I am in reeal estate and can not afford a lot of down-time
The question is does any one know if using hydrocortisone cream 1% or natural Cocoa
Oil reduce the effectiveness of efudex, when used In the day 8 hours after applying efudex?
I am on day 9 of two weeks and it seems like the intense burning is done just lots of ugly weeping and scrabbling and bleeding. Now it is just hard to talk and eat.
When the burning and swelling was was so intense a few days ago, I used cocoa oil then later on a different day hydrocortisone 1% . neither of which my doc recommended.
Why I ask is because the major lesion on my lip that brought me to the doc has not been affected at all. Around it and other areas have been affected but not this one ?????
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Kite girl
2 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2012 : 07:48:39
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quote:
Originally posted by JackRussell
TO JenT.
Actually, this is a response to everyone.
Efudex is no party. JenT, I guess that your earlier attempt with Efudex failed because you probably did it for only 21 days of less. There was a question earlier on this post about the varying durations in treatment. The varying duration I think is largely due to three reasons: 1) People can't take it and so the Dr cuts it short,2) Different treatment times for different cancer types, skin types and ages, and 3) I think many Dr's don't know what they are doing. Prior to doing Efudex I poured over all the studies on it. Minimum you need to go 28 days (face), two apply twice per day. If you are going after basil cell on the face then you must go 60 days. I know it's tough medicine but you are talking about pentance for years of damaging your skin. 60 days is nothing compared tot he 40 or mosr years of damage.
My girlfriend's Dr was going to remove basil cell from he cheek. A significant area would be cut and she would be scared. I got he a different Dr who thru my encouragement did Curac (eurafloricil - same stuff as Efudex). She applid it to the area for 60 days. It was a mess but you know what? She looks great today.
If you don't go long enough then It will come back some day. Get tough and just get it done. And don't forget your 50 block.
What about on the lips? Isn't the duration less when applying to the lips?
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JackRussell
18 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2012 : 22:28:36
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[/quote]
What about on the lips? Isn't the duration less when applying to the lips?
Odd thing about the lips is that I applied it to them and they seemed to react more quickly than any other area.. but.. they seemed to max out quicker too and almost stop responding. Nonetheless, I continued for 6 weeks.
My brother went nuts with Efudex and applied it to a single area for almost 12 weeks. The area reacted as expected, but then 4 weekes into it a bump that he had under that area started to reacted. He fearlessly applied for 3 months. Another brother called him crazy. That brother said that he would be scared for life. Well, it took a long to to heal but whatever that bump was deep under his skin, that he had had for years, is now gone.
Keep in mind that you are dealing with cancer here. Come on! A little discomfort and being ugly for a moth or two is nothing compared to the grusome death caused by skin cancer. Skin cancer takes no prisoners.
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AussieMike
1 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2012 : 14:20:46
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Being of Irish genetic composition, but having grown up - not in the mist, drizzle and gloom of County Cork - but on the highveld of South Africa and the beaches of Australia, I was destined to skin cancer challenges at some stage of my life.
So here I am on day 17 of a 21 day treatment of Effudex, and I have to say that I was very badly prepared for this journey. At my wife's insistence I go for annual skin checks. But when the dermatologist one day almost casually suggested I undergo the Effudex thing, I even more casually, agreed. At no stage did he tell me to prepare myself mentally for a tough experience.
And he certainly never once used the "chemotherapy" word which I subsequently learned is what this treatment really is. I suspect the word is somewhat stigmatized and if a medical specialist declares the need for chemotherapy, that would unnecessailry scare many patients.
Still, while it isn't a barrel of laughs (as a case in point, it's 3:15am in the morning as I type this and I'm unable to sleep because of the pain and burning), I take heart from the positive experiences shared by others on this site.
Judging from what others have shared, it would seem that this current period, I.e., the latter stages of the treatment, are the most challenging. Reading about the Love-Hate relationship others have had with Effudex (Love, afterwards, but sheer Hate during treatment!) has also helped to put the tough, lonely times into perspective.
I particularly liked someone's comment along the lines of how such a harmless looking cream is able to cause such carnage and trauma.
As an Effudix "victim" it's easy to feel sorry for oneself, but I suppose if there's a cancer type to be prone to, its skin cancer. At least the enemy is visible and observable.
While right now I make Oscar the Grouch seem like the life of the party by comparison, I'm lookin forward in a few weeks time to be able to post word of encouragement similar to others who have survived the Effudex Enduro.
Best
Crusty Mike |
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JackRussell
18 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2012 : 17:16:05
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| Hi Mike - read my posts. 3 weeks is not enough. You kill surface cells leaving the deeper damaged cells to fester unnoticed. You think all is OK and then one day you discover you have melanoma and its too late. Do it right and do 5 to 6 weeks. I did and I am glad. Sure it's hell but other people have been thru a lot more for a lot less. Dying of skin cancer is a hell of a lot worse, and all because you could not stick this out for 5 weeks. |
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dwoodpt
1 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2012 : 16:02:42
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| Just went through the 2 week efudex treatment with a 2 week steroid follow up. I've originally had mohs surgery on my lip and it turned out to be a 4 hr. nightmare. I was cancer free for about a year but it returned on the left side of my lower lip. I requested a consultation with my surgeon so we could go over some questions I had about the first surgery. We discussed the option of efudex. I would have tried anything not to go through the mohs. I did not receive much information from the derm. or the surgeon other than it would be a little unpleasant. I'm glad I called and asked if I should do the entire lip or just the left portion. After about 4 or 5 days it really kicked in and a series of scabs and raw area continued for the rest of the 2 weeks. It would have been extremely difficult if I had done the whole bottom lip. However the whole treatment was basically painless for me. It looked bad and I used a straw a lot , but to look at in the mirror made me smile because I knew it was working. Besides the cancer I had a lot of lip damage that would not heal, that is all gone now. I thank God there are sights like this where people can share there experience it has really helped me. In closing the efudex worked for me. I've also learned with cancer this is just one chapter you really don't know how it will end untill you read the whole book. One observation I've made reading these posts about waiting or starting a treatment, absolutely nothing good can happen waiting ! |
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MrsG
8 Posts |
Posted - 09/09/2012 : 12:55:22
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| Hi All - new to forum . . . first of all thank you all so much for sharing your FU5 experiences - I'm on Day 6 of application to my whole face (minus lips), and must report that the only change I have is in my lower lip - almost as if it is chapped - I'm being more careful with the application. I'm not sure how long I will be using as I see my derm on Day 14 - I'm sure she'll tell me then my continued approach. I too experienced a lack of information from my derm - this site has truly enlightened me, but also has prepared me for any outcome. I seem to run out and buy a new itch remedy everyday:):) . . . I'll keep you all posted . . . and, again thanks for all your comments - you too Jack Russell - I believe you!! Oh, and all the blogs are helpful too - have them 'bookmarked' to check when things get rough!! |
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JackRussell
18 Posts |
Posted - 09/09/2012 : 16:39:33
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| Hi MrsG - I didn't hide when I did the treatment. I was open and out there. Since that time a few people have come to me telling me they will be doing and asking what to expect. Aside from the discomfort and rash, I emphasized that they must do at least 5 weeks. Though they can clearly see how well I turned out, and they are envious of my complexion and skin, they still do not take the advice and do only 21 days. For a few now a couple years have passed and guess what? They are getting blotches and freckling and fine wrinkles. Me on the other hand, 5 or 6 years have passed and my skin is great. I'm 54 with the complexion of someone 20 years younger. I lost some pigment, and that I have to live with, but I much rather the peace of mind of wiping out any cancer in training and clearing out the blotches on their way to being some kind of liver spot freckles. Find a Dr who knows what they are doing and will help you do 5 weeks. BTW, I put it not only on my face, but my lips, neck all the way around, ears and upper chest. I admit I had more than a few bottles of wine during those 5 weeks to help me though it. I always found the discomfort to be more of a perceived discomfort than anything. Apply it once in the AM & once in the PM. Follow my advice and you'll be thankful you did. The upside of doing it right versus the downside is infinite. |
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ecobabe
2 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2012 : 01:15:32
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Today my Derm very casually prescribed Efudix with a treatment program of 1 week a month for 4 months. I'm 42 and have had a melanoma removed from my leg and numerous solar keratosis burned off my face and 3 BCCs removed from my shoulders, and we've just discovered a BOwen's on my chest that needs to be excised...
I've spent this afternoon Googling about Efudix/ex and I'm very scared to start the treatment. I am very conscious of my appearance and spend a lot of time outside of the home working which involves standing up in front of a lot of people. Also approaching summer and Christmas it's a very busy social time of the year. OMG I sound so vain, I guess I am! Has anyone had experience of the 1 week a month for 4 months treatment regime? I would like to have an idea of what to expect in terms of redness over the treatment week and also the recovery time from a week's treatment. My Derm recommended doing the treatment this way as he said it would be unlikely that I would be able to handle 28 days straight. I need to treat my whole face, hairline and sections of my lips.
Thanks for this Forum and to the people who've already shared their experiences |
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JackRussell
18 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2012 : 08:53:35
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Hi Ecobabe -
With all due respect the treatment regime prescribed you is idiotic. It makes absolutely ZERO sense! Efudex is a drug which interferes with the replication of cells. It interferes with the RNA in such a way that delays its ability to replicate and the cell eventually can last no longer and dies. Cancer and "pre cancer" type cells (such as the type of cells to which you refer in your post) replicate, as a rule, at a faster rate (have quicker lives) than normal, healthy cells. To apply Efudex once a week makes no sense. In doing so it would only for a moment (less than 24 hours) disrupt the replication. Once that period passed the cell would then replicate. Few to no cancer/precancer cells would die.
The prescribed application of Efudex is once every 12 hours. I applied it for about 5 weeks. Some apply it for only 3 weeks. My results are long term and permanently killed the bad cells as opposed to what the 3 weeks regime did which was leave bad cells deep under the surface.
I have less pigment now but it is worth it. All blotches, freckling and fine lines are gone. It has been over six years now.
I would not recommend doing it before the summer. Your skin will be fragile after treatment and must be protected from the sun. And for the rest of your life you must protect it because it will continue to be fragile.
People on this forum are poorly informed. Many Dr's appear poorly informed as well. I live in Boston, Mass. I went to the best Dr's on the planet at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. They told me the right thing to do. I bit the bullet and did my five weeks. You have to bite the bullet, take the discomfort and suck up the vanity. Do you want to die of skin cancer? How about being sliced and diced and scared having these things removed?
And when applying it, if a spot continues to be getting red at 5 weeks do not stop applying it to the spot. Do not stop until it scabs over.
A month after you finish treatment you will be back to normal - except for any deep spots which you chased beyond the 5 weeks.
When you start treatment it takes about a week to start getting red. Once you finish treatment it takes about 3 weeks to look like your old self.
So do it right and do 5 weeks!!!
Sure it's uncomfortable but I thought Ausie chicks were tough.
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deruo
21 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2012 : 09:38:50
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JackRussel, to clarify I believe she meant that her derm said to apply it FOR a week a month for 4 months, Not to apply it once a week. Thats the way I read it anyway.
Either way, I agree that this is not enough. My face only started rocking after a week of twice daily applications.
I see no reason to put down other members here as being poorly informed. Whose fault is that? We are here to help others. We are not Drs. Nor presumably, are you. I wasn't thrilled with my Dr. but as we've seen there are wildly varying lengths of treatment and some Drs. can't seem to agree on what is "standard".
Everyone is different. My face was not "back to normal" after a month. I finished on November 23rd and was still patchy dark pink in January into February. Not as bad as it was, but still. Certainly not "normal".
Now ecobabe, all this being said - I do agree with JackRussell on several points. First, based on what you've described about your medical history, I would not think that this treatment is going to do that much for you. Unless your Dr is trying to get you started during your summer and then do a heavier treatment afterwards. If you have a choice, I would not do the twice daily treatment during the summer as your skin becomes extremely sensitive to the sun and heat. I asked my derm if I could wait until the fall (for several reasons) and he said no problem. Finally, no one "wants" to do this, but is death from skin cancer/melanoma a better alternative? Permanent disfiguring scars from surgery make you feel better? Of course not. Suck it up and get it done.
If you are like most Aussies I've met, you probably spent a lot of time outdoors in the sun, and based on what you've experienced already, it sounds like you'll have what the Drs. call "a good reaction" to Efudex. Most of us care a great deal about our appearance and for those of us working with the public it makes it even rockier, but seriously.... this has to be done. You've already got a history of melanoma and BCC, and now something to be excised!
For what it's worth ecobabe, my Dr. told me to do it for 30 days. He suggested I do it in sections. Forehead first and then rest of face. I decided that if it was bad, I might not want to do the rest of my face after the first section was done, so I did it all at once. I'm glad I did. No it wasn't pleasant. Yes, I took time off work towards the end, yes I got some stares but thats their issue, not mine. On the plus side, I know I killed a lot, if not most of the pre-cancerous cells there AND got rid of a great deal of wrinkles at the same time ;-)
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dolfan
39 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2012 : 10:04:16
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| I need to move to Canada |
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deruo
21 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2012 : 10:30:14
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| Why's that dolfan? Politics aside, south Florida isn't so bad.... or is it? |
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anivoc
668 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2012 : 12:44:45
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There's a lot of talk in this thread about dying from skin cancer.
To be clear very few people die from non-melanoma skin cancers and melanoma is melanoma not actenic keratosis, squamous or basal cell.
As I understand it these non melanoma cancer don't "turn into" melanoma. Melanoma is a different animal and when Dan set this site up he made it clear this is for treating non melanoma skin cancers..Basically though there are a lot of people here who claim they have beaten melanoma alternatively..The proof of the pudding has yet to be shown clearly or properly documented.
That said.. Efudex was a early method of treatment of non melanoma skin cancers. It was not developed for them but as a chemotherapy drug. As ocologist treated patients , those with non melanoma skin cancers started breaking out with sores all over their sun damaged bodies. The medical world connected the dots and big pharma developed a diluted down version to treat skin cancers..
I remember my sister first using it @ 20+ years ago..and me buying some from online and using it on some small Ak's I had.. A few years later when I was speaking to one well known derm here in California he said he had quit prescribing it because he felt there were better faster treatments now and that because effudex is so hard to deal with a lot of people quit before they should leaving bad cells hidden below to fester and grow unnoticed... Great!
Anyway to those of you using it follow through.. IMO there are a lot of equal or better alternative options here on this site that are faster and will provide equally good results with less time and pain.
Just my opinion and observation and to clarify...I am just a lay person taking stabs in the dark like the rest of us here.
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dolfan
39 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2012 : 14:55:34
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| The problem with effudex is the heat and the sun exposure. I would love to be over and done with it in one shot, witch is what efudex sells in it's ad. My problem is my lifestyle and the fact that the pain and suffering from that cream would make me want to quit after the going got tough....just being honest. |
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deruo
21 Posts |
Posted - 09/13/2012 : 15:07:34
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Ah I get what you mean. Nothing wrong with being honest.
Ideally, I think it would be best to do it at a time of year when the sun and heat isn't at its peak, wherever you live. Especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors during daylight hours or can't make changes to your lifestyle for any period of time.
My new dermo has said that Efudex wouldn't have been her first choice for the reasons we've all heard about pain etc. She seems to prefer Aldara. I have a follow up with her in November so we'll see! |
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ecobabe
2 Posts |
Posted - 09/14/2012 : 00:57:33
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Thanks Guys, how to scare a newbie off.
My dermatologist is one of Australia's leading skin cancer specialists. I have been under his care for the past 6 years. I will follow the regime as he has prescribed because he has a great deal of clinical and professional experience.
His preference for 1 week of twice daily applications, monthly, for 4 months is based on patient compliance and outcomes. I did the first application this morning. |
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dolfan
39 Posts |
Posted - 09/14/2012 : 08:43:42
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| I have a friend here in Miami who does it the same way as prescribed by his derm. He said it was no big deal and I told him what I read about (five weeks) and he said that was not necessary. Anything is better than nothing and I think you guys in cold climates should open up a halfway house for recovering efudex addicts to recover (LOL) |
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MsDubbs
10 Posts |
Posted - 09/14/2012 : 22:40:18
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I've been on Efudex for 4 weeks and still have two to go. I have both basel cell and squamous cell cancer on my scalp. My scalp is really tender right now and I've lost a good bit of hair. The side effects I've had were nausea and metallic taste to begin with and itching headaches, and hair loss now. I've included pics and it's pretty nasty looking.
Image Insert:
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Edited by - MsDubbs on 09/16/2012 01:56:36 |
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John Howell
3 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2012 : 13:14:58
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I am ten days into Efudex for my hands and arms. I am the usual mess as described above.
Maybe I am a screwball but I have and unusual experience with taste that may be a side effect. Particularly, some things have taken a bitter aftertaste and my old afternoon glass of wine- my usual brand- doesn't taste so good.
Has anyone experienced this? This symptom onset about the time I started on Efudex. |
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MsDubbs
10 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2012 : 13:33:29
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| I don't have the metallic taste anymore, but nothing tastes quite right. |
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John Howell
3 Posts |
Posted - 09/18/2012 : 18:08:36
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I am day twelve into it, more or less. I will keep going until the tube runs out. On a scale of 1-10 I would put it all at about a 1.7. The burn has become an itch. Last night I could not sleep and had to go away from my bride of 52 years and head to the couch.
I am a Marine with two hitches, one in Twentynine Palms where the desert sun was brutal. We had no full covers there or in Vietnam nor sunblock. And even if they had them I don't think the Marine Corps cared enough about us to give us the junk. So Leathernecks became Cancernecks. Everywhere that the sun don't shine I have had the squalmos and basal and all the rest. I now look like a leper but what the hell, life is the sum total of all experience. I have absorbed a lot of sunshine.
To you who are heading into the treatment: Stick it out. Life can and will deal you worse. To the gals who have put your pics up with your burn marks: You are all beautiful.
Semper Fi |
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dolfan
39 Posts |
Posted - 09/18/2012 : 18:48:19
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| nice post John, my Dad was veteran of WW2 and Korea and died from cancer that they said was from the fallout of being near the atomic bomb in Nagasaki. I don't know if that is true, but I feel lucky to have escaped the horror of war. |
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MrsG
8 Posts |
Posted - 09/20/2012 : 08:35:33
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| Day 16 for me - had my two week appointment with the derm Tuesday . . . all on schedule, was instructed to continue for two months - yes two months, not weeks - OK with me - want to get it all out and move on . . .sunblock will now be my friend. Experiencing many red blotches, some drying and itching, but bearable - Aquaphor is helpful:):) Gool luck all!!! |
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MsDubbs
10 Posts |
Posted - 09/21/2012 : 00:12:51
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| MrsG, good luck to you! I have 11 more days. |
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JackRussell
18 Posts |
Posted - 09/21/2012 : 08:31:26
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I love the spirit I see coming from MsDubbs, MrsG and John Howell. You all seem to be intent on going the needed distance [with this drug] to get the job done right. I have been begging people on this forum to bite the bullet and go the requuired amount of time to get the required outcome. When this is all done and you are 1,2,3,4 years out make sure you return to this forum as I have to report how you are doing. It's been about 6 years for me and still my skin is great. I'm paler but my complexion and skin tone are great. The time I did with effudex was well worth it - and I have no idea the problems from which it may have saved me.
Keep the pressure on! |
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MsDubbs
10 Posts |
Posted - 09/21/2012 : 10:06:53
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| Thanks JackRussell!! |
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John Howell
3 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2012 : 17:34:02
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Well, fans, I am at day 18 or 19. The blisters have all turned scabby. I am sitting on my patio with a half-dozen sparrows chirping around my feet, peeling off scabs, tossing them. The sparrows love them.
I thought you might all appreciate a little Marine Corps humor in the midst of your misery. Sometimes laughter was all that we had.
Semper Fi
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MsDubbs
10 Posts |
Posted - 09/23/2012 : 01:42:19
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Thanks for the chuckle!! I have until the last day of Sept. |
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MrsG
8 Posts |
Posted - 09/23/2012 : 12:41:14
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| Happy Sunday all . . . at least it seems we're all moving along . . . must say I really do miss my bike riding and golf, but have been shopping to keep the exercise going - well, I think I'm pretty much 'housebound' now - it's not pretty:):) . . . too difficult to get makeup on - I'd go out if I really needed to though:):) - quickly!!! Have some house projects that I've been avoiding that I'll start working on . . . stay well all!!!! |
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MrsG
8 Posts |
Posted - 09/25/2012 : 15:05:54
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| Cannot quite believe the change just since Sunday - woke up Monday morning all swollen, then again this morning - looks like I have a bad case of the mumps - do have a call into my derm, but she has not called:( . . . no swelling anywhere else other than my face, so not sure if it is an allergic reaction or not . . . well, maybe I'll go get some cheese for my 'whine' . . . thanks for this place . . . :) . . . well, she just called - use cold compresses - normal reaction to the damage done earlier in my tanning days . . . use sunblock!!!! She did say I could cut back or stop for a few days, but I'll try to tough it out and see what happens . . . later all:) |
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MrsG
8 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2012 : 10:16:23
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| Well, how is everyone doing????? . . . it's been a tough week for me, but I'm pulling through - did put a call in today for some pain relief:( . . . sometimes the old saying "silence is golden" is not the case - my silence was due to no energy to share - I know this will be over in time, but it is difficult, but, better than the possible other choice . . . use sunblock all!!!! |
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deruo
21 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2012 : 11:08:42
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| Hang in there MrsG! |
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MsDubbs
10 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2012 : 12:01:25
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My last day of efudex was Sunday
I just wonder how long it takes to heal up? Anyone know?
MrsG, hang in there! |
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deruo
21 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2012 : 12:45:40
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Everyone is probably a little different. The worst for me was the week after I finished.
Healing progressed very quickly from then. I was various shades of red through dark pinks for about a month after. Then just pink patches that "flushed" after exercise, washing my face or applying sunscreen for about another 2 months. |
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MsDubbs
10 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2012 : 16:52:32
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| Thanks for the reply! I'm just a little to anxious I guess. I've lost a lot of hair also, but that will grow back. I've learned alot from everyone on this board! |
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MrsG
8 Posts |
Posted - 10/04/2012 : 10:04:25
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Hi All - hope you are progressing OK . . . @Jack Russell - you seem to be experienced in 30 day and 60 day treatments - I'm on day 30 of my 60 day cycle - curious, will I experience the sloughing at the same time the 28 day peeps, or will I have to wait until the 60 day period . . . just trying to prepare for a wedding I would love to attend at the beginning of November and wondering if I'll need a "fascinator with a veil":)
MsDubbs - hope you are doing well . . . thanks for the encouragement:) |
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pamos
2 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2012 : 01:47:46
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| I am just about done with week 5 of Efudex. I finally called my derm today since I have been using it once a day and wanted to find out if I should use it until I stop getting a reaction to it or just stop after a specified amount of time. Of course I was only able to speak to a tech, and it seemed like I knew more about it then she did. In any case, the derm said to use it for 3 weeks. From this forum, that does not seem long enough, so I went to 5 weeks. I have had scabbing over for the last week and half. Just wondering if because I was only applying it once a day if I should go longer? I have been applying it to each cheek. Its been pretty sore and painful, today I resorted to putting ice packs on my face at work - thats always attractive. I just do not want to have to re-do the treatment. |
Edited by - pamos on 10/06/2012 01:55:28 |
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JackRussell
18 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2012 : 09:05:55
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Hi MrsG,
I reviewed your posts and was unable to determine the frequency of your applications. For me, I had applied Efudex twice a day to my face, ears and neck for 5 weeks. If you are on the same regime as I and you are about 33 days into it then you will soon pass my 35 days.
I recall it taking me two weeks after ending treatment to finish with most the peeling, and taking me about a month to fully return to normal. Actually, the first week after ending treatment you will make tremendous progress.
If you are applying it thru October and attending a wedding in early November, in say in the first week of November, then maybe think about the veil – and also consider it for the second week of November. By the third week at least you'll be feeling better about yourself even though its noticeable, but at least much of the peeling is over.
I will tell you though, just making it to the last day, that last application and knowing that, that is it. That is such a great feeling. You’ll be anxious to get the healing over with and get back to normal, but just that feeling that you have put the treatment behind you is so good.
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MrsG
8 Posts |
Posted - 10/06/2012 : 13:48:42
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Thanks JackRussell - I started Labor Day in the evening and do two applications a day on my whole face . . . when I saw my derm two weeks later, she said to do two months - admittedly, I'm not sure if that is two months total, or two more months - regardless, I'm still trying to figure out what state I'll be in in the first week of November. If I remember correctly, you mentioned your gf at the time did 60 days, and your brother did three months . . . do you recall when they started major peeling - I've had some peeling, but does not sound like those I've read on blogs, so not sure if my system needs a few days of no FU before doing it's 'after' job . . . oh well, it is what it is - I'll start shopping for a veil:):)
Welcome pamos and good luck . . .
Happy Fall all - the colors are beautiful here - well, what I can see from the windows:):) Maybe I'll go for a ride tomorrow to check out the area - we live in the most beautiful area of America for Fall colors!!!! |
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JackRussell
18 Posts |
Posted - 10/07/2012 : 19:00:59
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[Hi MrsG -
I asked my brother and girlfriend if they recall at what point they started to peel but they were unable. In my case it wasn't untill I stopped the treatment, which makes sense since I would think your skin cells would need to start regenerating for that to happen and that will not happen as long as you are on EF5.
My GF had basil cell which was being treated. My brother was taking it without a DR's guidance to treat what he (in his non-expert opinion) thought was pearl cell. Last I read EF5 was OK'd by the FDA only for AK & basil. I had melanoma on my neck which lit up when hit with EF5 (I later had this surgically removed). So it obviousely reacts to many non-normal cells. My brother went 90 days and we thought he had permanently scarred himself but after several months he was looking great.
I'm glad you are more than half way there - I'm really psyched for you. Come the end of November you are going to be amazed by how healthy your skin is.
You have come this far and I know you can go the distance. |
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MrsG
8 Posts |
Posted - 10/10/2012 : 13:04:26
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| Hi All - thanks Jack for your info . . . well, I made it to 35 1/2 days - had an already schedule with my primary and she was not pleased with the stage of my face, so we all decided time to quit . . . now comes the aftermath . . . stay strong all:):) |
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shaecakes
3 Posts |
Posted - 10/11/2012 : 14:54:37
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello, newbie here. I found this site and have read it from the beginning. I am on day 10 of 2x a day and nothing yet other than a little fatigue and occational spot burning. I wonder, is this stuff just not working, or do I just not have any sun damage? I am doing the treatment because the derm did a biopsy on one of the little red raised spots on my shoulder and came back positive. I have a lot more of them and am putting this on my face, chest, shoulders and arms. My chest has the most. I just don't get why I have had no reaction. Anyone have any clues?
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pamos
2 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2012 : 12:38:17
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| I was on it for over 3 weeks before I started to see any reaction. Trust me it will come! You are covering a lot of areas so don't get discouraged. |
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JackRussell
18 Posts |
Posted - 10/12/2012 : 12:40:55
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Hi Shaecakes -
After washing the area to be treated you must rub a dab of cream onto/into that area. Apply when the skin is dry. Do not wash this area until it is time for the next application. In my situation, I did not put any creams or other products on this area during the time of treatment.
In all cases with which I am familiar, during the first week (7 days) of treatment you are in the "getting pink" stage. After this period is when the more pronounced effects begin. At day ten, if you have sun damage then you should have more than a few red spots. You should be at a point where you are starting to see and feel the effects which have brought many people to this website. You should pretty much be at a point where you are becoming anxious and counting the days to when you can stop treatment.
Hope this helps.
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Topic |
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Efudex
