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I only have to use Efudex for 4 days. How severe will my side effects be?

2x/day for 4 days

  1. 4 days seem ridiculously short. Are you sure it is not 4 weeks?

    Even 4 days will result in some cells being destroyed and painful areas occurring. The only difference is that you will suffer pain for a shorter period than most.

    1. I caught it super early just doing a routine check. And it’s only applied to a small spot on my upper cheek

      1. , I'm interested to hear how the brief treatment goes. We did hear on Facebook about some various treatments, including one called Picato that's apparently faster acting. They said that was painful, but did not say how many days it was taken. Hoping the side effects aren't too rough for you and glad it was caught early so you could have a shorter dose. - Nina, SkinCancer.net Team

    2. My dermatologist had me do not just effudex, but a combination of efudex and calciptrone for 4 days. I do smaller spots every week or so as I still work and it is the only way for me to try and address the skin issues. https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/topical-combination-treatment-significantly-reduces-skin-cancer-risk

      1. , I saw your Q&A and I'm glad you submitted it - it sounds like the combination is becoming a hot topic in the community. I hope you'll check back and let us know how it goes when you're done. Tagging who submitted the above question so they can reply. - Nina, SkinCancer.net Team

    3. Yes it’s a combo of fluorouracil and calcipotriene. What are your side effects when using the combo for only 4 days to treat minor spots?

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