Efudex (Fluorouracil) Skin Cancer Treatment

 My new mantra is this: ”Die, suckers, DIE!!!”

The red, sore, blistering, angry skin is the evil pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions being destroyed by the forces of good. Yay, Efudex!

Other random thoughts…

The backs of my hands, which were treated about five years ago with Efudex and reacted rather severely, are barely reacting at all this time. So, I guess it is true that …

• the Efudex does eliminate problem areas  
• healthy skin does not react to Efudex, at least not nearly the way AK-ridden skin does
• the next time (in five years?) I treat my arms, neck, and forehead, I can anticipate that it will not be nearly as difficult as it is this first time

Those are happy thoughts.

Last night, for the first time during this course of treatment, I had trouble sleeping.

I don’t attribute that entirely to the Efudex treatment. I was awakened twice by loud thunderstorms, and I did have my windows open so I was subjected to more outised noise (wind, cars) than usual.

Having said that, though…being a back sleeper, I definitely had some discomfort from the back of my neck being so raw.

My neck was pretty uncomfortable all day long, and I also felt some tightness/dryness in the skin on my forehead at times. I have had some itchyness on my arms over the past day or two as well.

I went to an event at my children’s school tonight, and noticed that people were looking at me. I can’t blame them.

After all, I’m a pretty good lookin’ guy.

The only disturbing thought today was that I have two more weeks of applying the Efudex cream, and my skin should get progressively worse from now until about a week after the creme stops. In other words…I am uncomfortable already and I will get worse for three weeks before I start getting better.

Yay! Bring it on. 

Had some sharp headaches today…and realized I have been having headaches over the last couple of days. Maybe I am getting something, one of my sons has a sinus infection. Or maybe this is from the large quantity of Efudex that I am applying each day. I know some of it gets absorbed…I should do some reading to find out if there might be a link between fluorouracil and headaches.

On the other hand…it doesn’t matter. The headaches are tolerable, and the Efudex treatment is important for my skin. Grin and bear it, man-up, bite the bullet, and all that rot.

I did, in fact finish the first tube of Efudex this morning, one arm short of ten applications. If am going three weeks, that means I will do 42 applications…I think I will apply it ever-so-slightly less liberally, so I can get through this magical journey with only four tubes.

I am not suffering yet, but definitely feeling the burning, especially on the back of my neck. My client project manager asked me today (a Tuesday) when I would start working from home…I said I thought I would make it through this week, but I sure am thankful for the flexibility I am being given.

Actually….since I did the first of my two-a-day Efudex treatments on the night of May 1, this is really more like Day 4-1/2. The only reason for quibbling is that tonight, when I walked into my bathroom to apply the magic healing salve (ha!) I realized that the tube was almost empty. Yes, I am using so much of the stuff that after only nine applications the tube was nearly empty. I should definitely get a medal, or something, for this.

I had a good five mile walk in the woods this morning.  I really do love to be outside. I don’t regret the cumulative outdoor time I have enjoyed over the last 47 years, even if it did give me the many BCC’s and few SCC’s that have been treated over the years…..and even if it did bring me to the point of this Efudex treatment.

Not only do I not regret it….but I intend to continue to enjoy time outside for as many years as I am blessed with on this Earth. Yes, I will always be careful and seek moderation. But will I stay out of the sun for the rest of my life? No! If that was necessary…just shoot me now.

I spoke with my current client today (I am an Information Technology consultant) about the treatment I will be going through. I told them that I don’t expect to miss much, if any, work time…but I did ask for some flexibility regarding working from home. My whole career I have extremely fortunate to work with, and for, some good people, and my present contract is no exception. Both my client project manager and the consulting company that arranged this project for me have expressed their support and willingess to work with me through this. I am grateful.

I have dreaded this for years.

(Go here to read about what has brought me to this point.)

Clearly the time has come to do this, and tonight I decided May 1 should be Day 1.

So….I stand before my bathroom mirror, puncture the seal, and squeeze the first ominous dab of apparently benign white cream on my slightly quivering index finger, touch it to the back of my left hand, and….sighing deeply…spread the cream from the backs of my hands to the bottom of my shirt sleeves, then on my forehead, then on the back and sides of my neck.

Let the fun begin.