EFUDEX PICS AND JOURNAL |
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WARNING! A NOTE ABOUT EFUDEX-INDUCED HYPOPIGMENTATION
INTRO  This online journal is to provide a little insight on what is involved with Efudex treatment. Efudex is a topical form of chemotherapy, which destroys both aktinic keratoses and superficial basal cell carcinoma.
Found lots of pics online of those going through the Efudex treatment, but none of females, unless you count the lady on the Efudex manufacturer's website. So, I've decided to post mine here, but due to reasons of vanity, I have to post a before pic :) Living in FL, I spent a lot of days in the sun. When I was younger it was bike riding and as soon as I was able to drive, it was going to the beach. For a few years, I practically lived at the beach. Sunscreen?? Who needs it? By the time any sun damage catches up with me, I'll be old, so who cares anyway? haha The thoughts of a 19-year-old, like many, who think being in your 30's is old. My mother had melanoma, which thankfully did not metastasize. My sisters have both had skin cancer (squamous & basal). After I did my face, about 3 mos later I did my chest. Enjoy these beautiful pics, and once in a while, please scroll up and remind yourself that I did look normal at one time! The one thing positive out of this is that I can start my daughter at an early age to be aware of sun damage and how important it is to protect your skin. She's only 2 now, but I've taught her every morning that the first thing you do when you wake up is put on sunscreen. For those of us who have skin cancer, that's the norm. Before I only thought you needed to put it on when you were planning on being in the sun. Now I realize how important it is to just make it a part of your morning routine. And my daughter, when she's 30 or 40, if she keeps up the same routine won't have the sun damaged skin that I now have. EFUDEX TREATMENT DAY 3 Day 3 of my Efudex application- This is when the red splotches first made an appearance.
Day 5 of Efudex treatment. Spots are getting darker and skin is tender to the touch. With the flash from the camera it doesn't appear as dark or as red as it really was.
Day 6 of Efudex treatment. Feels like a sunburn. Tender to touch. Putting on make up was a little uncomfortable. EFUDEX TREATMENT DAY 7 (AM) This will be the last day I'll apply make up. It's too tender and having to wash it off isn't pleasant. Skin tender. Started applying aloe, and then aloe & lidocaine spray. My face got very red very fast by this evening. See next pic.
EFUDEX TREATMENT DAY 7 (PM) Full blown red. It actually looks like my face got dragged over concrete. Kind of like scrapes. No more make-up. No more leaving the house. Had some neighbors ask me, "what happened to your face???" The shine is from the Aquaphor I applied to help ease the burn.
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