Generic Name: Efudex for Skin Cancer (fluorouracil-topical)
"I have been using the Efudex cream for 10 days now. I have come out in red spots on my face, but I am in no pain, as yet. I am wondering if I am using it correctly. The blotchy spots are crimson but not sore. Will it get worse because I was scared to use it, but so far so good as far as pain is concerned. I do look weird though with these red spots everywhere."
"Age 66 - spent many years at sea and, as you can imagine, my facial skin was a mess. Doctor put me on Efudex (how it is called here) two weeks ago and the results are amazing. Of course, it is not a pretty sight, and sleeping is a bit difficult, the reaction was clearly pictured in the brochure that I was given at the clinic - but it does not truly describe the actual sensations associated with the inflammation. A little concerned, I browsed for reviews and found this site - after reading the experiences of other users, I feel much relieved - thanks to all for sharing their experiences, now I am looking forward to seeing the end result. Stay safe and keep well. Thank you."
"Before I started with Efudex, I googled pictures and reviews. On seeing the pictures, I decided to do one part of my face at a time. I did my lip first, and now I've just done 2 weeks on the right side of my face. I'm glad I did, especially because I work in retail. The pain of feeling like you have cold sores all over your face, thank God for makeup is all I can say. I will do my right side once my left has healed, and then my forehead followed by a microdermabrasion. I think this product is amazing, and the way it keeps working after you stop applying. Those who did your whole face all at once, I take my hat off to you."
"After completing my Efudex treatment, my skin seemed to get better, and then it turned out to get worse and worse, with red spots where I had applied the cream. My doctor could not understand why and prescribed me cortisone cream, which turned out to be much worse. Another doctor said I am cancer-free, but from now on, I have constantly broken capillaries on my face, and I am not able to do any inversions or put my head down. My skin is still irritated after 6 months since I stopped using Efudex. With very sensitive skin, you should be aware that this cream is not always the best option."
"Two weeks after Efudex, my skin looked incredible - soft, and everyone asked if I got a peel! One day later, on day 15, there were burn abrasions, raised cuts, and I went to my scheduled two-week check-in with the doctor. She said it’s “working beautifully” and to continue for two more weeks. During week 3, I had small “cuts” all over my face where I applied the cream twice a day. Small scabby cuts also appeared on my scalp and chest, even though I didn’t apply the medication there. The doctor said that was strange, but I read in the leaflet that it’s plausible. I had a horrible taste in my mouth and felt sick to my stomach within 20 minutes of applying it. I’m in horrible pain, look awful, and have two more weeks to go. I had SCC with two Mohs surgeries and then reconstruction of my nose and head earlier last year. I'm 47 years old and grew up in California sun. Hope this prevents future SCC."
"Used Efudex on my whole face 10 years ago. I think it was for 4 weeks. Week 2 the redness turned into lesions on my whole face, especially my left side (driver's side). Hurt like hell. I play poker sometimes at a casino. I didn't have to look at me so my appearance wasn't my problem. After the lesions healed, my face was as smooth as a baby's butt. A couple of the players were surprised I was still alive because I looked like I had full-blown AIDS. I recommend it as I had no idea my face was such a mess. It is an ordeal. Using it on my ear now, started 6 weeks ago and in the last few days. Fingers crossed. Not pleasant but hopefully I can avoid surgery and plastic surgery."
"At 65 years old and a lifetime in the sun and numerous treatments including surgery, cryotherapy, etc., the doctor said I would have to use Efudex on my whole face as I had untold AKs plus Bowen's Disease. I was told it was a 'brutal' treatment. He was right. All I can say is that this treatment was the most painful experience of my life. By week two, I was in agony but forced myself to continue with the three-week treatment. A word of warning: under no circumstances get this stuff on your genitals. I did, and it was agonizing. The pain was so intense it sent me into depression for 3 months. Results were excellent, however, I have no regrets."
"Being a white Aussie girl who loved being outside, my skin was a mess. I’m now 58. I’ve used Efudex several years ago with great success. Started again due to scaly patches on my face that never went away. These reacted instantly and then disappeared. After having a break, I started using it on pigmentations on my face. These too reacted, interestingly, I started getting reactions on places I didn’t put the cream. So I started putting the cream there too. My face is a mess, very itchy, sore. I certainly wouldn’t recommend using this on large areas at a time due to the uncomfortableness of the process. I know it will be worth it, so I will continue on. I have some lumps on my head, once my face is done, I will be doing my scalp."
"Used years ago on my arms and it was successful for a time, after healing. But my arms look like they once did. I have red hair and freckles from growing up in Arizona before sunblock was used! Now I'm using it on my forehead. It's miserable, but I hope it works. All I can say is take it one day at a time. Keep battling."
"Efudex successfully combated skin abnormalities that my doctor had cancer concerns about. I used Efudex for ten days and then stopped because of blistering; they were small, but covered my face. It's been almost two months after my treatment and I still have an unsightly, coarse rash. The steroid cream I used five days afterwards eased the appearance of the rash, but because of concerns over skin thinning, I could not continue with the cream."
"I was prescribed Efudex for squamous carcinoma. Was told to do both arms from elbow to fingers. One at a time, of course. I'm just over three weeks of using it, and it has not worked at all. Doctor can't understand why."
"I'm treating slightly raised warts which only partially respond to tea tree oil, EGCG cream, tazarotene, and many herbal ointments containing thuja plus etc. essential oils. To those wanting to use Efudex, there are articles stating 1% /0.5% are better tolerated compared with 5%. But Carac is magnitude more expensive. I guess the lower % is less irritating as normal cells are not absorbing as much. If you have deep growth, 5FU may cause significant inflammation/edema that may be excruciatingly painful. I found using oral Serrapeptase 120k Ux2 (empty stomach) helps a lot in terms of managing inflammation and pain. It seems the warts are responding dramatically."
"Have attempted this 4 times now and always get a systemic reaction immediately. This made me so ill even though I was only using a small amount for very small area on face. Sickness, flu like symptoms, pounding headache, fever, hair loss and bed bound. I usually make it to day 18. Dermatologist has advised me to stop using this because of the severe systemic reaction. I can put up with the redness and blistering no problem. I would much rather have surgical excision than this cream. For Acintic Keratosis I just have cryosurgery. Tried Solareze recently for three months but had no localised reaction , it just made me wheezy."
"I have lived outdoors most of my life, helping on our farm as a youth, and just being exposed to too much sun, as an adult. As I reached my 60's I began to see areas of my face that would become crusty and flake. When skin cancer screening came to my site of work, I was told that there were some areas in which I should get checked out by a dermatologist, and so I did. These areas were immediately recognized (and verified by biopsy) as being basil cell and one squamous cell carcinoma. After going through about 5 surgeries (over several years) I asked about any other way to catch and destroy this cancer, before it came to the surface. That is when my doctor prescribed Efudex 5%. I used Aquaphor 1 hr after application, to help calm the skin. After the 17 days of use, it healed nicely. Now nearly two years after use, my skin is very soft and never peels or flakes like before. I have no hesitation, as I head into round two, nearly two years after first usage."
"A sun worshipper from my teen years and up... I had/have spots of skin cancer on my face/arms/chest. I was sent to a plastic surgeon and had a spot surgically removed from between my brows (not a good experience). I am now using Efudex. I am tolerating the pain, itching, and side effects, but I find it helps. I have used it on my face, arms, and chest with good results. I have been using it intermittently for 1.5 years and will continue until my skin cancer is gone. It may be a while."
"This product works very well to eliminate skin cancers. It becomes quite irritating after a few days, and very irritating at about 10 days, but it gets rid of the skin cancer in a couple of weeks."
Carac, Fluoroplex, Tolak
Carac, Fluoroplex, Tolak
