My Goal, My Story, My Efudex

My Goal...
Most likely you have found this blog because you Googled "Efudex." I hope that by sharing my experiences and my use of Efudex through a daily journal, I can provide some support and information to anyone considering Efudex. And, of course, to rid my face of sun damage and pre-cancerous stuff. Please know, I am a patient, not a doctor, so I promise to do my best at providing the most accurate information. If I have misrepresented something or provided outdated/inaccurate information, please feel free to comment with the correct information. 

My Story…

I was born and raised in sunny California. I wouldn't say that I worshiped the sun, but I sure did spend a majority of my life under it. As I entered my teens, I appreciated how much "better" I looked with a tan. For a good portion of my teen years into my 30’s, I used tanning oil with little to no SPF, sun tanning reflectors, and indoor tanning beds to help me achieve that sun-kissed glow—HOW STUPID!!! Hindsight's 20/20.

Around the age of 29, a small dry pimple-like bump develop on my forehead that bled through a tiny pinhole every time I worked out. It itched and burned, and I could actually feel that the texture of my skin was different from the rest of my face. Over a three-year period I saw 4 different dermatologists who told me, “you can’t feel skin cancer”, “skin cancer doesn’t itch”, “skin cancer doesn’t bleed”. Under the care of these doctors, I was diagnosed with adult acne and told I didn’t have skin cancer. I was treated with retinol, cryosurgery, and a shave biopsy. My best advice when you think something isn't right—listen to your body, you know best!

I just knew something wasn’t right so I told my story to anyone who would listen hoping to find a dermatologist that would validate that this “pimple” on my forehead was not a pimple. Reluctant to travel one hour to see a dermatologist but desperate to find a great dermatologist, I followed up on a family member’s suggestion to see Dr. Kim Albridge in Watsonville, Ca. At my appointment, she was apologetic for the mistreatments I had received and said there wasn’t any thing she could do for me and that I needed surgery. I was 33 years old when I was diagnosed with Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC). She referred me to a doctor at the Stanford Clinic of Dermatology for Surgery, and in 2001, I had Moh’s surgery to remove a fairly significant area (about the size of a half dollar, 1.2 in) on my forehead. You can see the big “T” scar in the picture I posted below (12 years later).

Now at 44 years old, a history of skin cancer, and new changes to my skin, Dr. Albridge has recommended that I use Efudex, a topical chemotherapy cream that treats pre-cancerous skin condition and Actinic Keratosis (AK), also known as solar keratosis, and considered warning signs of skin cancer.

My Rx…

Efudex 5% - apply twice a day for 2 weeks. My duration will be a lot shorter than most of the other Efudex online vlogs and blogs I viewed—I’m not sure what I’m expecting from a shorter duration, but sure hope it involves less pain—a girl can wish, can't she?

I don't have health insurance right now, so I chose to order from a reputable online Canadian pharmacy (canadapharmacy.com) and paid about $72 for 40g of brand name Efudex—THIS IS NOT A PAID ENDORSEMENT, just helpful information for anyone in the same situation as me. And by the way, another doctor of mine has used and recommended canadapharmacy.com. Although the wait for the medication was about 2 weeks longer than going to a local pharmacy,  it gave me time to research the drug, side effects, and other's experiences. I was quite apprehensive to start, but knew this was something I must do for my health and well being, so I started Efudex May 14, 2013, the day I received the medication.

Ok, Let's Do This...

I welcome your support, comments, and personal experiences. 

Thank you!

Sally