Fluorouracil topical and Swelling: What Users Say

• out...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2013

Fluorouracil topical for Skin Cancer "Age 66 - spent many years at sea and, as you can imagine, my facial skin was a mess. Doctor put me on Efudex (how it is called here) two weeks ago and the results are amazing. Of course, it is not a pretty sight, and sleeping is a bit difficult, the reaction was clearly pictured in the brochure that I was given at the clinic - but it does not truly describe the actual sensations associated with the inflammation. A little concerned, I browsed for reviews and found this site - after reading the experiences of other users, I feel much relieved - thanks to all for sharing their experiences, now I am looking forward to seeing the end result. Stay safe and keep well. Thank you."

• Car...
• May 2, 2016

Fluorouracil topical for Basal Cell Carcinoma "This is my third time over the past 10 years doing this treatment. I'm scheduled for 4-6 weeks treating my legs, stomach, and chest areas. I like that the medication seeks out and treats damaged skin only. My stomach has only 3 small spots. However, my legs and chest area that have been far more exposed to sun have a much more aggressive reaction. The pain, redness, swelling, and sores are extremely painful, however, my history reminds me that in 3-4 weeks, I will be finished, and my skin will look and be much better. Skin cancer gone and baby-smooth new skin. It's affordable and a more complete overall treatment that definitely works. Stick with the plan, you won't be disappointed!"

• Sar...
• October 7, 2017

Fluorouracil topical for Keratosis "I was diagnosed with actinic keratosis in August and then decided to apply the Efudex cream to face in the middle of September. I thought that I only had a couple of spots which I was concerned about, but after applying the cream to my forehead, temples, cheeks, nose, around the eyes, and my ears, it became quite apparent that there were a vast amount of areas that had been affected. In the first week, I saw that these areas became inflamed, although not painful. In the second week, these areas started to merge together and then looked like blisters and sores on my face, especially below my eyes. In the third week, these started to scab a little and became a bit painful, I think due to the skin feeling very dry. I am now in my fourth and final week."

• Anonymous
• November 3, 2009

Fluorouracil topical for Keratosis "I ended up in the hospital with a very serious allergic reaction to Efudex. Started with nausea and diarrhea, went into hives, swelling in my lips, mouth, all over my body. I have been out of the hospital for a week, my voice is still hoarse, I still have a rash, not feeling well at all. I'm on Prednisone to counteract the allergic reaction."

• Lin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 26, 2020

Fluorouracil topical for Keratosis "I am a 70-year-old woman originally from Britain. Used Efudex on chin, side of nose, and cheek. Went up a little too close to the corner of my eye, which swelled up. I used it twice a day for 15 days, which was enough to bear. Big crusty scab on chin. Very sore, itchy, and burning. Can't do the other side of my nose as it's too painful."

• Dog...
• January 28, 2020

For Skin Cancer "Age 70, male, excessive sun exposure. The dermatologist suggested 'Blue Light' on my face, but after the painful experience with this same treatment on my arms, I chose to use fluorouracil. I applied it for two weeks to my face, neck, and ears. On day 13, I went to the dermatologist with fears of open sore infection, plus I could barely open my mouth to eat. I was prescribed a topical antibiotic, a topical steroid, and Benadryl to reduce swelling, and an OTC product called CeraVe Healing Ointment. The CeraVe provided immediate comfort and relief from my misery and allowed me my first decent night's sleep in over a week. I started by applying CeraVe twice a day and then saw even greater benefit by applying every three hours or so. Aquaphor did not work as well as CeraVe for me. I have been restricted from sunlight and leave home only after the sun sets totally (no twilight) to run errands. Looking forward to healthy skin again and daylight hours."

• Tma...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 24, 2020

For Actinic Keratosis "I used Fu-5 cream on my face recently for sun-damaged skin. I had several bad sunburns 40 years ago in my teens. This product has wiped out most of that old damage! Scaly, red, and/or brown spots are about 90 percent gone. Applied twice a day for 2 weeks (28 applications). Here's how it goes: wash face, dry, and apply a thin layer. Nothing happens the first few days. Days 4 - 7, dark spots and redness should appear only on the damaged areas. Beware, days 8 to 14 can be holy hell with stinging, soreness, inflamed, red, raw skin...looked like a horror movie monster. Took Aleve and used pure aloe vera gel for relief. Don't use ANY other lotions and do stay out of the sun that second week. Third week healing starts, but expect lots of peeling and crazy itching (Neosporin helps). Week 4, WOW, the new improved skin shows...just a bit of redness that will fade over time. End results were well worth the pain. I recommend only doing one side of your face at a time - makes it easier to sleep."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 14, 2014

Fluorouracil topical for Keratosis "Fluorouracil 5% used on the lower lip vermillion border for over a year. Two biopsies confirmed actinic keratosis. After application once a day for 4 days, the lip would swell and ulcerate, then heal over 5 days. The lesion would return on day 6. I repeated this over and over for one year. Now I am going to participate in a study for Solaraze Gel. I will report findings in three months."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2013

For Keratosis "Same as everyone else...very uncomfortable and hard to look at. Dr. says many people go too far by continuing application of cream after 15 days. Stop. My dermatologist prescribed a steroid cream to relieve swelling and quicken the healing process. San Diego born and raised and growing up without sunscreen, there is a lot of sun damage that will be gone."

• Sla...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2016

For Actinic Keratosis "I had extensive AKs for the past 10 years on my forehead, scalp, temples, face, and hands. Regular liquid nitrogen treatments removed those that were visible. They would return, and other unseen AKs would appear. I wanted more effective treatment, so I did almost 3 weeks of heavy applications of fluorouracil 5%, 2x/day. The burning, blistering, cracking, stinging, and swelling are most impressive. After nearly 3 weeks, my derm said I was done, and it would take 2 weeks to improve a lot, and 4 to be all better. He was right. My skin is great now, looks good, and no AKs! It's miserable getting there, but less cancer risk - why wouldn't you do it?"

• Dee...
• March 12, 2020

Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis "I am on Efudex for a few spots of actinic keratosis on my face. I am on day 15 and was prescribed to stay on it for 21 days. My face is raw, swollen, and monstrous looking. I feel like it’s super glued. I’m gonna do my best to stick it out for the next six days. Like many others, my doctor did not tell me about the intense pain and scary look. However, my father-in-law was on the cream a few years ago, so I knew what I was in for. I also went through phototherapy 12 years ago, where that result was immediate, I threw up on the way home from the pain. Efudex has the same pain, just a long drawn-out process to get there."

• All...
• January 17, 2018

For Keratosis "Dr. told me about fluorouracil. She also showed me photos of people, this helped me mentally. I completed my 14 days. I had bright red areas on my face, spots on my face and chest. Crusty skin spots that cracked, everything hurt. My chest was worst, with blistering and drainage. The worst thing that happened-somehow I got cream on my lip. I believe it came from the pillow. My lip blistered and was swollen. I found using vitamin E liquid was helpful in relief for my lip. I am using A&D on the red area, crusty spots, and chest. Feels great. I covered my pillow with a silky pajama top. This really helps me sleep better. What gave me encouragement was the other remarks and knowing the 'norm.'"

• AJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 6, 2019

For Basal Cell Carcinoma "TIP: I highly recommend using Neosporin and Cetaphil moisturizer during recovery days, it helped a lot with healing and irritation. I have 5-6 pre-cancerous lesions on my face. My doctor recommended this cream. She prescribed using it on my forehead to start. Twice a week at night for 8 weeks. This allows the skin to recover in between. I have found it to be irritating to my whole forehead, dries out your skin, which becomes itchy, red, and scaly, and a little swollen. The morning after application is the worst, with it becoming very irritated. It is a little uncomfortable, but not unbearable. I am in week 3, and now the skin around my eyes is swollen and so it's not pretty, but by day 2, your skin is recovering but still scaly and red. I can use makeup to cover if I need to go out. I'll keep you posted on my progress."

• BJ0...
• February 5, 2014

Fluorouracil topical for Skin Cancer "I'm treating slightly raised warts which only partially respond to tea tree oil, EGCG cream, tazarotene, and many herbal ointments containing thuja plus etc. essential oils. To those wanting to use Efudex, there are articles stating 1% /0.5% are better tolerated compared with 5%. But Carac is magnitude more expensive. I guess the lower % is less irritating as normal cells are not absorbing as much. If you have deep growth, 5FU may cause significant inflammation/edema that may be excruciatingly painful. I found using oral Serrapeptase 120k Ux2 (empty stomach) helps a lot in terms of managing inflammation and pain. It seems the warts are responding dramatically."

• BJ0...
• February 5, 2014

Fluorouracil topical for Skin Cancer "I'm treating slightly raised warts which only partially respond to tea tree oil, EGCG cream, tazarotene, and many herbal ointments containing thuja plus etc. essential oils. To those wanting to use Efudex, there are articles stating 1% /0.5% are better tolerated compared with 5%. But Carac is magnitude more expensive. I guess the lower % is less irritating as normal cells are not absorbing as much. If you have deep growth, 5FU may cause significant inflammation/edema that may be excruciatingly painful. I found using oral Serrapeptase 120k Ux2 (empty stomach) helps a lot in terms of managing inflammation and pain. It seems the warts are responding dramatically."

• Joj...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 21, 2016

Fluorouracil topical for Basal Cell Carcinoma "I had a small lump removed from below my lip and was prescribed Efudex to be applied twice a day for four weeks. I have just finished that time, so I don't know how effective it has been. I had no reaction for 9 days, then my lip became very swollen and weepy, cracked in the corner. My GP suggested that I put Vaseline around the spot before applying the cream, and that helped the lips considerably. I changed to paw-paw cream, which seemed to help. Now it is six days since I stopped applying the cream, and I still have what looks like a large cold sore, as well as the red crustiness under my nose, which started only when I stopped the Efudex. I am hoping this may go soon. I am not sure whether to put anything on them or not."

• Car...
• February 21, 2017

For Basal Cell Carcinoma "Had a basal cell right under my eyelid. My dermatologist insisted I go see a Mohs surgeon. I took a doctor (internist) in my family with me to see the surgeon. The surgeon wanted to cut. When the internist told him that there is very little tissue under my eye and I could lose my eye, he said well there is always a chance. The internist said how about fluorouracil? He said no. Of course, he said no - he is a surgeon and only makes his money on cutting. The internist wrote the prescription for 0.5% fluorouracil cream to use for 3 weeks - apply at bedtime. After 2 weeks, the area was very red and oozed and swelled up. I continued for the 3rd week. It has been 10 weeks since I stopped the cream. The basal cell is gone and the area is just a little pink."

• Goh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 20, 2020

For Actinic Keratosis "I applied fluorouracil to my entire face for 4 weeks (28 days) from mid-March to mid-April. It had caused several permanent hypopigmentation (white) spots on my forehead where cryotherapy was performed last year by my dermatologist to treat actinic keratosis. It has also caused severe inflammation and redness on my cheeks since I stopped taking it over 3 months ago. I now suffer from severe anxiety, stress, and depression. I think really dark thoughts every day. I wish that I had never heard of this medicine."

• Tim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2019

For Actinic Keratosis "I just completed a fluorouracil 14-day/2x per day treatment on my forehead for actinic keratosis. Progressive reaction during this and three previous treatments in the past 15 years have been consistent and typical: redness, dry crustiness, mild discomfort in the last few days. End results a month after treatment have been good: smooth, normal color skin. I’ve never experienced side effects until now. On the first day after treatment, swelling began in both eyelids and in the area below both eyes. On the second day, today, swelling is less in lids but severe below one eye. I thought the ointment may have gotten in my eyes via my bed pillow. My dermatologist says probably not and that swelling will resolve over the recovery period. I hope he is correct."

• Blu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2018

Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis "Used this once daily for two weeks on my cheek. After the last day, I was out in December sun for approximately an hour in LA, with sunscreen. However, days later, I developed swelling and then large blisters, which healed with large scabs. Thankfully, when they fell off, I was left with only red skin, with a few blood spots under the skin. All healed over in three weeks. Unfortunately, this experience has left me weary of using it again."

• Mil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2017

For Actinic Keratosis "I am 59, a redhead, green eyes. Live in AZ. Not a sunbather. Under dermatologist directions, used 5% cream for 10 days on forehead and chest. Very painful. Developed severe allergic reaction with swelling in face, lips, throat, fever, and chills. Stopped treatment and narrowly avoided the hospital. Still experiencing pain. Be careful!"

• Jim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2022

Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis "As expected, this treatment is horrendous. Week 1 was not too bad. Week 2 was extremely difficult, lack of sleep, etc. Week 3, truly awful! Extreme pain, care must be taken when showering. I used lukewarm water on my face, I found this helped, but then the skin went tight. After applying Efudix, I waited an hour or so before applying a moisturizer (Nivea for Men Sensitive, alcohol-free). Sleep is extremely difficult due to the terrible itch - scratch - itch! Week 4. I had to stop using Efudix! Swollen face, half-closed eyes, however, it has definitely worked, with blistering, weeping, and peeling beginning. Because of the swelling around my eyes, I rang my doctor, and we agreed to cease any further application, as Efudix has done the job! I am now experiencing bouts of severe itching - tried all sorts of lotions and potions, but alas, no relief. Nivea seems to give a little relief. I've read you often feel worse when you stop using Efudix, and it's true!"

• Joh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2020

For Skin Cancer "Week four of six-week treatment on my forehead. Week three I started developing hard lumps under skin where the cream is. This week the lumpy, hard mass has dropped down as far as my cheeks, my eyes are puffy slits. I have stopped applying it but can't get to the docs till next week. Anything I can do?"

• Mil...
• June 17, 2024

Fluorouracil topical for Keratosis "This is my 3rd time using Efudex cream. I have been told by my dermatologist to use Efudex cream 2 times a day for 2 weeks on lower lip, forehead (1 spot), between upper lip and nose (1 spot), and both hands. I have very fair pale skin. My skin reacted really quickly to the cream. In 5 days, my skin was red with blisters and itchy, very uncomfortable. Now I am on day 10 and my hands are swollen, itchy, with scabs, very dry, and uncomfortable. I am applying fresh aloe vera gel from my yard 2 to 3 times a day. I am not sure I can make it to 14 days. I will write to let you know the results."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2025

Fluorouracil topical for Actinic Keratosis "I've been taking Tolak cream once a night for 20 days now. Very difficult, painful, itchy, burning. I'm hiding inside, started slowly, but now my face is totally crusted, swollen spots all over. So I reckon this means it's working as I watched some YouTube videos with people using Efudex (also fluorouracil 5). Now my dermatologist has said to stop using it or give it a break for a while. I have an appointment with her in 3 weeks. I'm just afraid it won't have got rid of it all as I was supposed to do 28 days. Any ideas?"