Immonocompromised CLLer with numerous warts.

[Bluesinthenight]

I've had CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia) for at least 15 years, currently on oral therapy (acalabrutinib) to control my leukemia. One annoying problem that has worsened in the past year is an increase of warts. I've had warts for over 10 years, but they have not been as numerous or cosmetically bothersome. They are most numerous on my hands and the soles of my feet, but also on my elbows, in one of my nostrils, and on my upper lip. Fortunately, the ones on my lips are so small as to not be visible without close inspection. The most cosmetically disturbing warts are on my fingers and elbows, but especially the fingers. A dermatologist has tried liquid nitrogen several times with only temporary benefit: They don't vanish completely or they grow back. And, the freezing of adjacent, non-wart skin is painful. The best thing I've tried is a salicylic acid preparation known as "bazuka". The main advantage of this gel is that it covers the warts with a mostly waterproof coating, and unlike the other liquid SA preps, I don't need to cover up the warts to keep the active ingredient from rubbing off. But treating 20+ warts every day, soaking first in water, peeling off prior coatings or filing down the tissue is very time consuming - at least an hour a day. So, that is why I am seeking any suggestions or better treatments for warts. I've tried the duct tape, but taping up all your fingers is not practical and is also tedious when you have numerous warts. I also tried fluorouracil cream and an immune stimulant cream, imiquimod, both ineffective.

Is there anything new and effective for treating warts?

[Prance]

My daughter had a real problem with warts. We tried all sorts of treatments. NHS had no cure. We took her to local Chinese herbalist who said you have to find the mother wart and treat it, then the other warts will disappear. He found it and gave us some stuff to apply which eventually killed it off, and low and behold all the others started to disappear. She's been wart free ever since.

[Bluesinthenight in reply to Prance]

Wonderful result from the Herbalist’s strategy and treatment. Wouldn’t it be nice to know the ingredients and formula in that anti-wart stuff?

I had covid last year, a bad case lasting a month, but interestingly, all warts shrunk by at least 50%, and a few disappeared, still gone a year later. It was as though the covid virus infected the wart tissue, or, perhaps my immune response to covid also targeted the wart virus or viruses. But as I recovered, most of the warts grew back along with others: Covid gone, warts back. I would not recommend covid as a wart treatment!!

[Prance in reply to Bluesinthenight]

Yeh sorry, no idea what the ingredients were. Was over 15 years ago.

[Minster30]

Good morning 🙏 sorry to jump on your post but have you ever been/heard of WHIMS Syndrome?

[Bluesinthenight in reply to Minster30]

Good afternoon (where I'm located, at least), Yes, I've heard about the WHIM syndrome. I do not have of the features of that rare genetic condition. My CLL has the usual hypogammaglobulinemia and immune compromise typical of CLL in general. Also, my bone marrow never has an excess of mature neutrophils, which is a key diagnostic feature of WHIM. My warts developed when I developed CLL. Never had them before. So, I don't have WHIM. But thank you for that note!