Safe skin cancer treatment for PMR, advice please

[Zebedee44]

Does anyone have any experience of Efudex cream for solar keratosis or skin cancer? I was prescribed it by a dermatologist but wonder if our thinner skin reacts more to it? I used it on a couple of small dark patches for about three weeks and it was quite alarming, just so relieved I didn’t slap it on all over my face!

[Rose54]

Hi I used it once a day for a month on my nose it did peel the skin but expected this soon healed up after a month .

You only need a very small mount on the targeted area .

[PMRpro Ambassador]

A friend of mine used it - had to use it all over her forehead - and it DID look horrendous!

[SomersetWife]

My husband does not have PMR, however, he does have solar keratosis. I was concerned that as this was on the top of his head and forehead, the treatment would make him very sore as at 79, his skin is quite thin. My treatment regime for him was to apply a tiny amount to each area very thinly, with a cotton bud each night before bed. Each morning, I gently washed the treated area for him, blotted dry and, when after about 3 weeks of treatment, his forehead was getting sore, applied a tiny amount of Sudocrem to these areas. Result? After 6 weeks GP is extremely impressed with the results and we are now finished with the Efudix cream and using Aveeno Dermexa lotion/cream to moisturise and help the last of the dry skin flakes to come away. I think that only having the Efudix cream on the skin overnight, helps to prevent the worst of the side effects. Hope this helps.

[Zebedee44]

Thankyou that helps a lot. I was applying it twice daily and not sure how to moisturise or when or how to protect it from the hot sunny weather. I wore a large brimmed straw hat outside but didn’t know if I should put sun cream on. Evidently sudocrem is oil based and can burn in the sun!

The areas I treated on my face were sore, itchy and very red. Sudocrem helped hide and treat the scabs but I’m not sure if I have actually treated the condition completely. If I start again I will apply only at night and very thinly.

It didn’t have any effect at all on the backs of my hands.

[MrsNails]

Hi ZebedeeYes l’ve used it very effectively, luckily it was in the winter & you do only need the tiniest amount.

I think as lucky it was on my leg & across my chest area so it was easy to keep covered but you definitely need a Sunscreen, were you not given instructions?

Good Luck 🍀

MrsN

[Zebedee44 in reply to MrsNails]

The dermatologist advised me to look online at photos of the effect it can have but nothing specific about care during and after treatment. I was very cautious but still shocked at the effect on my face.

[herdysheep]

I only used it on bridge of nose and it did peel. Kept my sunspecs on for a month working on toddler basis - if I couldn't see it so much, nor could others!

[AlexanderOgden]

Efudex is an anti-cancer ("antineoplastic" or "cytotoxic") chemotherapy drug. Skin irritation, burning, redness, dryness, pain, swelling, tenderness, or changes in skin color may occur at the site of application as side effects. It's normal. Usually, doctors recommend skin treatments like moisturizers or led lights therapy, aestheticbureau.com.au/led-.... These side effects appear because it contains the active ingredient fluorouracil and belong to a group of anti-cancer medicines (also called antineoplastic or cytotoxic medicines) applied to the skin. It works by destroying precancerous and cancerous cells while having little effect on normal cells.