Has anyone used the drug 5 FU vaginally for VAIN 3?

@randinc11 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I’m sorry about the diagnosis that brought you here and I’d like to offer support. Can you share more information? What is vain 3? What is 5 fu cream and why did your doctor prescribed this?

I can reply with this for now:

Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN)
(as opposed to VIN, which is Vulvar Intraepithelial Neoplasia)

VAIN 3 means the full thickness (100%) of the surface layer of the vagina is affected. VAIN 3 is also called carcinoma in situ, but it is not vaginal cancer.

Macmillan Cancer Support
https://www.macmillan.org.uk › worried-about-cancer

Also, here is a link to more info on this cream:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/19329-fluorouracil-5-fu-skin-cream-or-solution
It is something my dermatologist gave me in ointment form (in a tube) to apply to my nose when I had a recurring keratosis. I am not a medical professional, but having been through some procedures for a precancerous (vulvar) condition, I personally would wonder how fluorouracil - (which is basically a chemotherapy drug, my former PCP advised me) - could be safe (or at least, not painful or erosive) to gynecologic tissue?

Again, just me, but I might doublecheck with another doctor / gynecologist or dermatologist before applying.

Best wishes.

@brandysparks Thank you for the explanation. I can't recall anyone in our Gynecological Cancers support group posting about Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN). Can you? I'd like to refer this new member to other discussions. For now I will suggest this:

@randinc11 I'd like to suggest that you search Mayo Clinic Connect to see if anyone else has shared information about VAIN and the treatment you are prescribed. Here is how to do that.

Go to the top of this page. In the middle of the screen there is a Search window with an icon of a magnifying glass. Type various terms in that Search window such as VAIN or Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia. You can also use the Search window for the cream you are using.

Also, @randinc11 would you like to share more about yourself? For instance, did you have symptoms? How was VAIN diagnosed? Was this during a routine gynecological exam? Did you doctor refer you to a specialist?

It has been horrible . Yes I applied into vagina for 5 nights in a row and I finished last Saturday and I still am feeling horrible from this Med .

@randinc11 - PLEASE check with another doctor / specialist (like a gynecologic oncologist, which who I was referred to when I was diagnosed with VIN II/III.

I would think fluorouracil would burn terribly!?!

Let us know what you find out please!

The oncologist is who prescribed to me the cream to use . What did they do for you when you saw them

My condition is different...it is (vulvar) "lichen sclerosus" (LS) and clobetasol propionate 0.05% is the ointment to manage this, but LS is incurable. And, if it is "differentiated" LS - what I have - it can become cancerous.
Fortunately, so far, my condition became JUST PREcancerous (VIN II/III), and had to be addressed with a complete laser ablation this past Feb. followed by another biopsy to check a particular area of concern. Got the "all clear" on that recently.

But, have to get exams every 4 - 6 months for the rest of my life, and continuously use the Clobetasol to keep it under control, hopefully.

Please do check with a(nother) gynecological oncologist.

@randinc11 - Here's another link of possible help/interest:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7391826/
Molecular Clinical Oncology
Mol Clin Oncol. 2020 Sep; 13(3): 19.
Published online 2020 Jul 13. doi: 10.3892/mco.2020.2089
PMCID: PMC7391826
PMID: 32754333
Recurrent vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia successfully treated with topical imiquimod: A case report

Thank you ! Yes that’s what I did ! I am hoping it worked . It has caused a lot of vaginal irritation and discomfort but it also has made me not feel the best almost like having the flu . I don’t know if using the cream inside your body has any other like side effects I’m not sure if that’s why I kinda feel like I do. Thanks for all the info