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Skin cancer: Has anybody had fluorouracil treatment?

Posted by starship @starship, Dec 14, 2022

My parent has hit the point where she gets four or five pre-cancerouas growths on her face every year. The doctor has been freezing them off with good results.

The Dr. recently suggested she apply a fluorouracil lotion to her face two times a day for two weeks. Apparently, this kills off the defective skin cells and holds down the development of the pre-cancerous growths for about two years. But, my mom is worrying about the redness and unpleasnt effects of the treatment during the 2 to 3 weeks she is dealing with it.

Can anybody who has used this treatment pass on their experience. She wants to hear from people who have done the treatment.
Thanks.

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | 5 days ago
In reply to @tdebbie "Hi, I am about to start the cream. I have had two Mohs surgeries on the..." + (show)
@tdebbie

Hi,

I am about to start the cream. I have had two Mohs surgeries on the top of my head. I have spots on the crown of my head that are pre cancerous, the tell tale rough skin before it turns into cancer. My doctor wants me to put the cream on the crown of my head, she describes it as about 4 drops and apply it onto the recent surgery area as well. The surgery was 6 weeks ago and they buzzed off a good section of hair already so it's going to be a hat for some time. Here is the question, will it be easier to deal with this cream if I buzz the rest of the top of my head to apply the cream. I need to do this twice a day for two weeks and am not looking forward to my hair being covered or in the way (already did this with vaseline for at least 6 weeks including the biopsy) I am also very concerned about my dog getting it on him somehow.

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@tdebbie Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! As to buzzing off the rest of your hair, it depends on how you feel about this? Are you ready/concerned how it might grow back? Perhaps a larger area so you have a spot to apply the medication plus a margin?

Good luck on what you decide, and please let me know?
Ginger

REPLY
tdebbie | @tdebbie | 5 days ago

Hi Ginger,

I discussed this with my daughter and she thought the same thing. Buzz it off where it will be applied to the length of the spot already cut. It is currently about 1/4" long there so it makes no difference if there is more. I had to get over this when I took that bandage off and saw the state of my scalp. I have become much more comfortable with this in the past few weeks, at the end of the day its just hair and hopefully it will grow back quickly. This makes sense and will make it easier to apply the medication twice a day. It will also help when the skin starts to flake off. Does this medication stay where you apply it?
I am very concerned about my dog where he is very affectionate and will be wearing a hat while I am using this medication to be sure that he does not come in contact with it. Thank you for responding so quickly, I will pick up the medication tomorrow.
Best,
Debbie

REPLY
groversgirl | @groversgirl | 5 days ago
In reply to @tdebbie "Update, its not cream but the topical solution and is why it is 4 drops. Sorry,..." + (show)
@tdebbie

Update, its not cream but the topical solution and is why it is 4 drops. Sorry, I am new to this

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Sounds like she prescribed you the drops so that you don’t need to buzz off more of your hair. Since this might become something you do every two years or so, I don’t think you should have to shave your head every time you do it. I am basically always using the cream somewhere on my body for maintenance. Per doctors orders. Fluorouracil mixed with calcipotriene. Good luck!

REPLY
tdebbie | @tdebbie | 4 days ago

Thank you for your reply, I am a newbie with this. I did cut the hair just to be sure that it does not travel anywhere and it was easier to apply it to the top of my scalp. The hair was already cut because of a recent surgery and it is now all the same length on the top. I have to spread it around with my gloved hand so it is not getting on the longer hair. I am very concerned to have it where my dog might be exposed to it. Maybe I am being a little over the top but I don't want to take a chance.
He is locked out of my room and bathroom for the time being. I will see where things stand if I have to do it again and will already have experience with this medication. The last spot on my face I had frozen off rather than the cream.

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