Chemotherapy Face Cream, Your Experience Please

[MIGrandma]

I have a 6-month checkup coming up on the 19th with my dermatologist. I had Mohs surgery 6 months ago on 2 places on my face, and a couple zaps on my scalp with liquid nitrogen. He said at my 6-month checkup he would like to discuss chemo therapy cream. I tried asking him about and he just said we would discuss it at my checkup. So, I have done a little research about it and it doesn’t sound all that great to me with all the side effects from it.

So, if anyone here has gone through using chemotherapy cream on your face I would appreciate hearing your experience. Thanks.

 

[Christine]

I don't have direct experience but two of my very best friends have used it--one male and one female if that makes a difference. The guy friend, who seems to like to consider himself a medical experiment, went very overboard with it and there was a period of time that his face was painful for me to look at. The woman friend who just did it last year came to work on some of the worst days of it. It's hard not to be taken aback when you see it and she described her face as looking like raw hamburger.

That said it works and when it's all over and healed up, you skin looks pretty glowing for a while. It's like have some sort of dermabrasion! But it is a good way to get all the widespread pre-cancers gone.

 

[longboard55]

Is it Fluorouracil, I use it all the time, takes off the pre cancers. Makes your skin look great after treatment

 

[Shellsbutt]

I have used Efudex-think that might be the same as Fluorouracil? I've used it twice several years ago. Now(winter time) is the best time of year to be applying it, because of risk of sun exposure. I think you only use for a few weeks until your skin starts to turn red and scabs up. Follow the directions on the tube or from your dermatologist. It will look awful before it looks better. I had severe itchiness while it healed and flu like symptoms, your mileage may vary. I used it on my forehead, nose and cheeks. I used a beanie to cover up the rash a little, got funny looks from people, some even asked what happened to you, lol.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have a 6-month checkup coming up on the 19th with my dermatologist. I had Mohs surgery 6 months ago on 2 places on my face, and a couple zaps on my scalp with liquid nitrogen. He said at my 6-month checkup he would like to discuss chemo therapy cream. I tried asking him about and he just said we would discuss it at my checkup. So, I have done a little research about it and it doesn’t sound all that great to me with all the side effects from it.

So, if anyone here has gone through using chemotherapy cream on your face I would appreciate hearing your experience. Thanks.

I've had two separate Mohs surgeries on my forehead over the past few years. Also, frequent liquid nitrogen zaps every dermatology visit (3 per year). No Mohs follow-up other than observation by the doctor. The doctor does say that older people my age are among his 'best customers' because of lack of sunscreen and 'sun-bathing' in our youth days many years back. He also said younger females in their 20's to 40's who have used tanning beds for years.

Best wishes, @MIGrandma, with your follow-up.

 

[longboard55]

Also do the ears, I have had 3 ear skin cancers. Pretty common spot for cancers

 

[Darcy03231]

I used it and it worked great for me. I had a couple of spots that looked "angry" for a bit, but everything healed with no scarring.

 

[georgina]

I read this thread yesterday, then went to my dermatologist today for my annual skin check. Last time she removed one precancerous spot from my face, today she saw 4 (all quite small).

She did mention the cream, said my face would look red for 3 weeks but it would take care of all of them, or she could freeze them off. I opted for the freezing today, but she said they will probably keep multiplying so I should keep it in mind for the future. She did say this is the time of year to do it. I am going to Florida at the end of the month though.

 

[slo]

My DH and FIL have used it. My poor DH looked like he has the worst sunburn of his life on his head and face. He knows he’s going to be told to use it again, but he’s waiting until after the winter, because he can’t wear a hat when he’s using it - to painful.

I wish you well and if you use it I hope it won’t affect you badly.

 

[MIGrandma]

My DH and FIL have used it. My poor DH looked like he has the worst sunburn of his life on his head and face. He knows he’s going to be told to use it again, but he’s waiting until after the winter, because he can’t wear a hat when he’s using it - to painful.

I wish you well and if you use it I hope it won’t affect you badly.

Did your DH have to apply the cream all over his face or just on the suspicious looking spots? I have 4 small spots, 3 had Mohs surgery. One is an old spot, 5 years or more ago, and the other two was done 6 months ago. The other is a small spot on my jawline. If my dermatologist wants me to use it on just those spots, okay. But if he wants me to apply it to my entire face I don’t know…. I’ve read it’s very painful. Little spots I could handle, but my whole face?

 

[slo]

Did your DH have to apply the cream all over his face or just on the suspicious looking spots? I have 4 small spots, 3 had Mohs surgery. One is an old spot, 5 years or more ago, and the other two was done 6 months ago. The other is a small spot on my jawline. If my dermatologist wants me to use it on just those spots, okay. But if he wants me to apply it to my entire face I don’t know…. I’ve read it’s very painful. Little spots I could handle, but my whole face?

He had it on certain spots, but those spots are large areas. The sun has been very cruel to my DH and his father.

 

[MIGrandma]

Thanks Slo, mine are small. Dime size and less.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I did it almost exactly a year ago. I looked horrible. The first week is fine. The second week my face got red and scaly. The doctor had me use the cream for two weeks, and the last few days it hurt to put on. I looked terrible through week 3. I went back for my yearly appointment in November. I had a clean check and nothing more needed this year.

 

[longboard55]

You can do just a small area at a time, but you can't see all the damage so I would cover the entire area. The other option is continue to get Mohs surgery. I like the cream

 

[K and K's Mommy]

I sent you a Direct Message with my week 3 picture. I don’t want it to scare you off, but you can make a good call on timing. I’m a teacher so that’s why I did it winter break.