superficial sc cancer on face treatment

@dicksdogfarm: Thank you for coming to Mayo Clinic Connect to get more opinions about your SC choices. As with all opinions, you'll likely find they vary tremendously.

THe freezing technique would be done in office and would result in a scab that will last a few days to a week or so. I have personally had this procedure done with basal cell (BCC) and have not had untoward effects although on the face it can look a bit unsightly for a while.

If you're referring to a chemo cream, it may be 5-fluorouracil which would require repeated self-applications, generally twice a day up to 6 weeks. Side effects may include intense, skin irritation, redness, and inflammation at the application site.

I can provide you with this fact sheet from Mayo: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/squamous-cell-carcinoma/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352486.

t's an individual decision. What are you leaning towards?

@dicksdogfarm Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. This will be your individual choice, which route to take. As @grammato3 described, either method will result in some discomfort. Some people don't want to be seen with any blemishes or reactions, like my sister, who hides out at home for 3 weeks. Others, it is not a big deal.

Please do let us know what you decide. Has your dermatologist weighed in with their thoughts?
Ginger

If your dermatologist think either will be adequate then you are talking
about appearance and ease of treatment. Your skin type and degree of sun damage for your age are also important.
Liquid nitrogen spray heals nicely in 7 -10 days. Readily covered with makeup
after it dries out in two days.
Topical 5 FU is more suitable if the surrounding area shows
sun damage that is treated and it
will become inflamed and eliminated in the process usually healing with
a rejuvenated appearance. The area of application usually gets red and
crusted during several weeks of applications.
Cryosurgery is simpler but may not be as preventative in the long run.

I'm 6 treatments in for scc on tip of nose which arose in an actinic keratosis. Also on sidewall of nose have a nodular basal cell cancer with an image guided depth of 1.5mm. I was told that for my nose it was Moh's surgery or the image guilded srt. 21 treatments total with redness of nose primary side effects. Nasal dryness and maybe crusting inside the nostrils. The other options mentioned in above comments were not offered to me. Was it due to the basal cell being nodular?