Skip to main content

Day 1 - Efudix

Day 1


 Hi.  

 My name is Clayton and I recently had it affirmed by my GP that I should undergo Efudix (brand name) chemotherapy for emerging solar keratoses (actinic keratosis) and possible precancerous squamous cell carcinoma. Over the past year I have had solar keratoses emerge on my left jaw line and several on the right side of my face in what I'll call the 'side-burn zone' in front of my ear.

 Simply put, Doc has said that drug exposure is for 21 days.  It is a chemotherapy that should only ever be considered in the colder months.  Further, he was upfront and told me it would be challenging.  Every other Blog I have read in preparation this weekend confirms that advice. The treatment was described by a pharmacist that I spoke to as "...aggressive", not what you particularly want to hear, but there you go.

 The whole thing is a little scary if I'm honest. But as a typical kid growing up in the 1970's in Queensland, playing cricket, AFL and all before ol' Norm launched into the national conscience with his Slip, Slop, Slap message (1981), well...there is going to be a reckoning. Hopefully this is mine and this is what it takes to pay the 'invoice' I racked up during my childhood and the days that followed.

I've been advised and intend treating my whole face including forehead. Treatment arc is approximately 40-50 days...plus another month (at least), post treatment, to regain a 'normality' of appearance.

 Fears and doubts at this point:  
  • shaving from days 8-25
  • the general effect on loved ones, particularly my wife
  • won't have the courage to endure the side effects of the treatment
I'm going to try and stay at work across Days 2-6 but I'm not sure how that will go, especially with the embargo on any UV radiation exposure and other reactions my body might have to the chemical.

I'll take photos as I go in the hope that it might help others.  

I also hope that it promotes the use of high SPF sunscreen in anyone who becomes a reader.

Feel free to comment and ask questions...




Comment:

First application.  Nothing noticeable yet.  Just a very slight sense of the skin around my eyes tightening perhaps, but barely noticeable.

I'm very aware of touching my face and inadvertently spreading the chemical to parts of my body where it should not go i.e. the eyes and mouth.  I have read that you'll only ever get it in your eyes once!


 Learning:  I'm inclined to touch my face a fair bit!  Maybe I'm not that unusual, just hyper-aware at the moment when my hands go near my face.  

So it begins...





Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 39 - Pink!

This blog is to help others contemplating this treatment. Day 39 Final Post - Pink! This is my final post and the past week has just been about recovery.  My face is still very pink and I suppose that will slowly fade, but it's still disconcerting.  There is no itching or pain anymore. Shaving is back to normal too (thank God). I'm still applying Paw-Paw ointment as noted in the previous Blog post, hence the 'shine' in today's photos.  I'll be using it for some months yet. In summary: This was a tough gig for long periods; Staying indoors and out of the sun was difficult, that surprised me more than I thought it would. I may not be suited to living in Canada in the winter 😊;   I still have to get a blood test to check my Vitamin D levels as a result (yes, seriously); I'm glad I'm through it, that I made it, and I'm glad I had the sense to read other Blogs before starting, to get the lay of the land; The reason I'm glad, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Days 30-32 - A Tropical Fruit

This blog is to help others contemplating this treatment. Days 30-32 - A Tropical Fruit Well a couple of marvelous things have happened since the last post on Sunday.  On Tuesday I think I became itch free for the first time in about 20 days.  You don't know what a relief that has been.  In fact I say 'think' because when I returned to a more normal 'state' I didn't really notice - then it dawns on you...hey, I'm not itching anymore, yay! I've also switched up the lotion attack.  After some research on Paw Paw content I'm using the product below.  It has the highest Paw Paw extract by volume of any that I can find on the Australian market and is available in a couple of major pharmacy chains.  I think this was a good move.  Importantly it is petro-chemical free. I'm sure that Monty Python might have a song about exfoliation - if so - message me below and I'll link it.  Generally, very scaly, couple of open sores but I'm m...
Post a Comment
Read more

Day 18 - Doctor, Doctor...

This blog is to help others contemplating this treatment. Day 18 - Doctor, Doctor... I've just returned from the doctor this morning and the general opinion was that I have had a solid reaction to the drug and that everything seemed quite normal.  He did not expect to see me again but was happy to at my discretion. I'm almost out of Efudix and not sure I'll get to Day 21 before running out and this was OK with Doc - just use remaining and then go into repair. I have a prescribed cream for when repair starts: Advantin.  It contains some form of low level cortisone to get things moving. I went to the appointment with no cream on so Doc could see 'the real me'. Today's learning is that it was much worse with the cream off than on.  Things have completely switched around.  With the cream off, your skin dries out rapidly and tightens very painfully.  So I couldn't wait to get the cream back on!   I have bought some neutral Aqueous ...
Post a Comment
Read more