Fluorouracil Cream

Just finished 2 weeks of cream application (2X day 2 Weeks, off 2 Weeks and start over 2X day for 2 weeks). So far it has gone well. I have three spots on my face. Of course one is on my nose, so I now look like witchy-poo. Spots are red and scabbing as I was told would happen. I was allowed to apply Aquaphor to effected areas but had to wait at least an hour to do so. Looking forward to this being complete.

I am doing a 7 day 2X course on my forehead, cheeks and temples; just finished day 7 yesterday. It stings a bit; and feels like sunburn, but Tylenol helped me. The first three days were very easy, but then I started to get red spots and some tightening. That developed rapidly into deep red patches and lots of red spots. By day 7 I was glad to stop doing the applications. I work out on a rowing machine and continued workouts through this. Now on day 8 the effect of the medicine is still developing, and I feel nauseous, tired and have a slightly swollen throat - a bit like a light case of the flu. I am impressed at all the red spots that appeared. I had a dozen or so liquid nitrogen spot removals over the last 10 years and it seems like I would have a lot more coming if I hadn't done this. We'll see. But I am already glad I at least tried it. It's a journey, but many people think they did the right thing in trying it.

Use 2x/14 days once a year. Usually time treatment to peak during Halloween. I have had six surgeries for stage 2 melanoma, so this is preventative treatment for my face/head area. My understanding from the Dr., is that the damage was already done some 20 years or so ago, due to sun exposure and now this is the result. The goal of using the Fluorouracil cream 5% is to avoid something progressing to needing surgery on my face. As far as effectiveness, it is 5 stars, as the assumption is it prevents precancerous skin from progressing, so if you don’t develop melanoma, it’s working. The actual application is straightforward and easy, but the effects of using a chemotherapy cream can’t be quite uncomfortable and even painful. The final result is very effective. Precancerous skin killed off, smooth undamaged skin remains, surgery or worse avoided. Would assume most people would have a challenging reaction versus a mild one, just based on the nature of this type of medication.

Very very sore now that I have completed 3 weeks. I can’t go out, can’t read or watch TV as I wear glasses and the pressure of them feels enormous. I am so depressed, I would never use this again. I was warned by the doc, sort of, and a friend of mine who has used it twice. Her warning was far more realistic and horrifyingly true.

This is the worst medicine I ever used. Lots of adverse reactions, then vomiting and blurred vision. Stopped using on Day 14.

So far, so good. I've used (5%) 2 times per day for 2 weeks. I'm in the dealing stage, week 3. I've used it before, and I'm getting about the same results. After 1 week, the areas I've been using it on (the Bridge of my nose and a small spot above my eyebrow), the redness started, and it did what was intended to do, I guess. I am hoping it has killed off the pre-cancerous spots I had do to too much sun exposure over probably the last 55 yrs. With little or too low sunscreen. I chose to go with the cream rather than have the spots burned off. I chose to have less pain over time rather than all at once. You still have to heal after both for approximately the same time. One thing I had this time and not last was something I'm thinking was a side effect of the cream. At almost the end of the 2 weeks, I started getting terrible, terrible dry mouth and chapped lips. Mind you, I was not using it on my lips. At almost 3 1/2 weeks, my mouth isn't as dry, but my lips are still super dry. I'm wondering if anyone else has or had anything like that? Good luck, and wear sunscreen.

I was given this cream to use on my face by a dermatologist. As per the instructions I started with a clean face and applied the cream to my entire face. Within 1 hour as I was sitting in a chair, extreme dizziness occurred. After standing up it was much worse. Had to lie down for this to subside. This is after 1 application. Can't imagine 4 weeks of this.

My first experience was on a patch of skin on my cheek. Used the cream for about two weeks, and yes, it reddened and scabbed. But today, several months later, the affected area is smooth, calm, and trouble-free., without redness. I've now just completed a three-week regimen on my legs, one at a time. Right leg ended up with more than a dozen red itchy spots of all sizes, and these have calmed down considerably after the three weeks. Left leg regimen is done now too, and only ONE spot appeared! I am hopeful that the spots won't leave scars, but at 77, I'm not terribly particular. What I'd like to know is: do the spots indicate that there were possible cancers developing? The docs don't tell you. I can only surmise. It's good to be done with this protocol, for now .... (and yep, sun bunny for decades and paying the price now)

I was instructed to use for two weeks. It caused all kinds of spots on my face to scab over. My nose and ears had a lot as well. Stopped after two weeks and after a week of healing, my face is so much clearer than before. Really worked. I had no side effects. Used as directed and was easy.

The reviews I read are all true. The worst is the third week. If you have limited time off work I would recommend taking time off during the third week and maybe into the fourth to let your skin heal. You can't wear make-up to cover up any spots. My saving grace was that I could vasiline on my face at certain times and that helped with the pain, burning and dryness (check with your doctor about the vasiline) but I caked it on my face daily inbetween the treatments (wear old t-shirts). It was a tolorable with the vasiline. My mom did this treatment so I knew what to expect going into it. She had beautiful skin afterwards and she has not had all the cancerous spots on her face. My dad was supposed to do it, and kept putting it off because of vanity and his business meetings. He ended up dying of skin cancer at 73 -years-old. I begged the doctor for the treatment since I have red hair and fair skin. Time will tell if it works. One thing is I completed the treatments a year ago, and my skin still has redness to it. I will be talking to my dermatologist about this, but at least I can start wearing foundation to cover it up!

I am 16 days into my 28 day regimen. I’m using it once a day, primarily just below my nose, but also on a small spot on my forehead. Nothing happened the first week, but then the red blisters began. Very painful, burning, made it hard to sleep a couple nights. I think I’m past the worst of it now, but we’ll see. The skin under my nose has been peeling, but the spot on my forehead has done nothing - maybe it wasn’t precancerous. I had Mohs on my nose 5 years ago and prefer this to that.

I was prescribed to apply twice a day for two to three weeks. I suppose it is working as the rough flaky persistent blotches are smoother and red. However, the label says the medicine is extremely toxic to pets and if ingested can cause death. I have a little dog, two bunnies and a snake. I am terrified this stuff may kill them. I have devised the best possible plan to avoid exposure for my pets. I have a set up where I use a series of ziptop bags labeled clean and dirty for the medical gloves I bought at the drugstore. Then when I’m finished applying and cleaning up, I wipe everything down disinfectant. Then I wash my hands at least twice. Once when finished and everything is cleaned up, then again after I cover the area I applied the cream with a bandana. It’s exhausting! I’m still terrified I might expose one of my pets. I’m afraid to play with my dog. I don’t pet any of them. I truly want to heal myself but I don’t want to kill or make seriously ill one of my beloved pets! I can’t just leave for two or three weeks. I can’t just send them somewhere for tow or three weeks. This is horrible! I can’t wait for it to be over!

I'm doing this tolak now, honestly it should come with a warning, dermatologists should tell you you are going to go through hell.Mine just prescribed it and said apply once a week to affected zones. simple. The first week was ok ,the second lots of patches, this week horrible I have hives , scabs and skin that feels like Ive been dragged through nettles its all over my face , i can hardly open my mouth, my cheeks are so puffy i can see them in the corner of my eyes. I was looking ay this to see if I can stop, I'm 2,5 weeks in. I had mohs surgery on my nose already so am doing this as dont really want my face being cut into anywhere else. If you do do it , take week 3-4 off work, get netflix and some straws and face your mirrors to the walls. good luck

The treatment I was using is a 5 day treatment , I can't imagine using it for 3 weeks . I did have that too, but never use it . I will say definitely plan it out when your going to be using it. First 3 days not too bad then 4 & 5th day putting the cream on twice a day my lips were inflamed and sore . I thought great I'm done with the cream now I'm on day 6 very sore then 8 day my bottom lip on fire and have blisters . I figured it's going to get worse before it getting better. I put the medicine all across my bottom lip , I had dryed and chaped lips from exposed sun being outside in snow, wind . Never thought to put sunscreen on my lips . Now living in Florida and out fishing all the time it just made my lips even worse. Wanted to try this see if my lips would heal. Will say it's painful eating , drinking and bending over . I do put Vaseline on my lips to keep it moist. I sure hope this is over within next few weeks . Then It should heal and then I get fresh start. I do use 15 +sunscreen on my lips when out in the water . Hopefully it helps. It sure would be nice if they gave you more information on how and what you can use to ease the pain .

I’m on my last week applying the cream on my chest. It’s super itchy at times and after 2 hours of the application I put some Prickly heat powder on it. It cools down the skin and feels wonderful for a while. I’m going to pull through. Only 1 more week to go. Luckily it doesn’t stain my clothes.

No issues until about day 10. The areas of my face being treated began to feel "burned." Specific spots in the treated areas began turning red. The pain and irritation began ramping up days 11 through 14. Honestly, at day 12 I almost stopped using it, but I powered on. It's been two weeks since the end of the treatment period and signs of redness and irritation are almost completely gone. No itching or pain in the treated area. The skin has essentially healed and is now soft and smoother than before my treatment started. The scaley sun damaged spots seem to be gone and the brown spots have lightened considerably.

I have actinic keratosis on my hands and forearms up to short-sleeve top length. Had surgery for squamous cell carcinoma on my forearm and was prescribed this cream for the AK. 2 1/2 weeks out of 3 total so far and red spots have formed, some raised/swollen. Just starting to hurt, but tolerable. Pharmacist told me to only apply to the AK; think that’s helped with tolerance. Also using a topical corticosteroid cream for pain. Highly recommend! Will likely have to go through this again between my neck and shoulders minimally. Oh if we’d only known in the 60’s-70’s what we know today! I’m fair-skinned and blonde and was a sun baby then, so expecting more treatment. Beats the alternative!!

I started this terrible journey 26 days ago. My dermatologist froze a couple spots off of my body. She wanted to freeze two or three spots off of my face, and I told her no please don’t touch my face. I have a vacation to go on. She then proceeded to say that she would just prescribe a cream for my face, I was given no details of this horrible journey. I picked up the cream it said to apply every night to face and neck and then wash off in the mornings. I began to do so. After about the fifth day, my face and neck were covered in red blotches that only got worse as I continued on with the cream . I called the doctors office because I thought I was allergic to it because of the lack of information given to me when she prescribed it they told me no this is normal. It will only get worse before it gets better. My last application will be in three days , this has basically shut my life down. I had to cancel my vacation it is extremely painful and also you look terrible after I figured out what I had gotten myself into I knew I had to continue on with the treatment. I have no idea how long it will take after I finish my last application here in a few days I have read that it can take up to two months for the redness to go away. If I would’ve been more educated on this cream, I would’ve probably chosen to do the treatment, but I would’ve chosen a time when I had two or three months to recover. It takes planning. I have even come somewhat depressed because I feel like I can’t leave the house . I am praying that my results in the end are wonderful. I do know that from now on I will be wearing at least 50 to 75 block on my face and neck for the rest of my life. I don’t even think they made sunscreen when I was a kid , I’m pretty sure they did not. I am still trudging forward. I hope I am not scarred from this.

Been using it for a week and nothing is happening. Because I’ve had 2 Mohl surgeries and pre-cancers frozen off in the past, it’s weird to me that absolutely no red spots are showing up. It could be a good thing I suppose but I was expending at least a red spot or two. Maybe it doesn’t work on everyone.

I had a LARGE, baseball size, squamous cell on my shin. Yes, it got ugly, during treatment, but definitely worth it! No pain and fast healing after treatment stopped. My last biopsy was negative!!! Sure beats surgery and useless chemical freezing. Highly recommend this vs the alternatives!