Hi caflowerluver,

You sound anxious and worried. I have no experience with your condition, but wnt to offer support. Can you get more info or your questions anwered from your dermatologist?

Is the lesion large? Extensive? Are you supposed to put the cream only on the lesion or over your entire face? The latter seems extreme.

I think ? that Actinic Keratosis is common. I think I might have a few areas of it on my hand and a leg. I will have to read up on it, but I believe I was told, decades ago, that it was caused by sun damage and had the potential of developing into cancer.

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I have had it on my chest. And it wasn't horrible, per se, but the relief after it was over, was well worth it. I wish the area it had to cover had been smaller (my entire chest. Like VicsVapoRub, but not as nice smelling), so I would think your time will be far more bearable, since it's a smaller area. Best of luck to you!

Is your lesion small and in a confined area?

Am I correct in understanding that is is a small area and has not developed into a cancer and that the the doctor wants you to used the cream on it to peel is away (?) and the cream (from my cursory glance) works by keeping the lesion from developing into a cancer by prevention the development of RNA so the the DNA the lesion needs to create cancer will also be blocked.

LINK: https://www.medicinenet.com/fluorouracil-topical-carac-efudex-fluoroplex/article.htm

I've had quite a few skin cancers, and resulting surgeries to remove melanoma, basal cell and squamas cell. Only one on the face required surgery, others were on the arms, back, thigh. I've been seeing dermatologists every six months for over 15 years.

During the winter I do use a cream on certain concerning spots on my face. I apply it 14 times, generally twice a day for seven days, to spots my dermatologist has identified as precancerous. It causes blistering, which is unsightly and uncomfortable. But the result is clear skin and no concern from my dermatologist during an after visit. No scarring, which ... if the skin cancer isn't stopped, can be a big deal when it progresses and has to be surgically removed..

This fall it was recommended I have a blue light therapy on my face over the winter, to get all the precancerous cells at once. They say it'll feel (and look like) a bad sunburn. Not looking forward to it, but it will be better than the spot treatment that I do now.

My best wishes to all who had the more serious form of cancer. I am not worried yet.

I have had Actinic Keratosis on my cheek. My dermatologist froze it off, and it has never returned. The area got little red and irritated for a couple days, then cleared up.

I had a solar lentigo on my nose. Fluoruoracil/Efudix cleared it up in a couple of weeks. The doctor warned it would look worse before it got better. She was right. But it disappeared completely.

I've had several removed from my back by freezing. It stings for a few hours afterwards and in a week or so it peels right off. It can leave a red mark that will fade. They don't concern me.

Me. A bunch over the last 30 years. I participated in a medical trial study in the late 1990s to see if Imiquimod was an effective treatment for AKs. Turned out it is. My dermatologist more frequently prescribes this than Effudex/fluorouracil. Only the precancerous area will react with either. Takes 4-6 weeks to run it’s course. That’s been my experience.

My DH is an albino hes had decades of Actinic Keratoses. He stopped using the fluorouricil finally 11/2 yrs ago.

It took a LOT of calls etc but he now uses Klysiri. Its very expensive but insurance pays all but $60 . He gets one box each month. It works on an area the size of the back of both hands. its 5 tiny packets.

Believe me when I say it works without all the side effects. The horrible burning and blistering for years and years …NO LONGER.

It dries the area when applied and it gently peels dry skin off. . thats it.

Don’t use the fluorouricil. 🙏

Thanks everyone for the information. Especially in regards to personal experience.

I was just diagnosed with the same thing 2 weeks ago. I chose the freezing option and had it done right then and there. Within a week the scabs healed. Easy and one and done.

My DH has done the cream route.

This happened in Florida. I was going for a freckle that appeared and what I thought was prickly heat on my forehead. Freckle was fine. But my face wasn’t.

I don’t trust the doctors here. I happened to be going up to NY for all my early appointments so I added my dermatologist.

I was fine. So worse case it was treated and now gone, or it wasn’t there at all.

I had a spot of it on my faceFor yearss--I have sensitive skin and just thought it was an irritation. I had the freezing done. Just wore a round bandaid for about two weeks. No mark at all.

I have never had actinic keratosis. I graduated to squamous on the underside of my nostrils! After decades of broiling in the sun, I am paying big time. Last visit was a suspicious thing on my leg, which was incised but turned out not to be cancer. The bottoms of my legs are always bruised because of thin skin from decades of sunbathing. I have my annual appointment with my lovely dermatologist in a few weeks. I dread it.

I had it on my forearms. The treatment is not worse than the condition. Focus on the prefex "pre-". Follow your doctor's advice, this is a time to be rational and not vain. Good luck.

I had a small Actinic lesion on my face frozen off, but it has returned about a year later. I will do it again.

Is Kysiri covered by Medicare?

we have United Heakth Care Advantage and my DH is 78. It covers all but $60 . It took several tries to get his monthly subscription . Due to his condition being so much area on arms and hands and ears etc but they worked it out and a pharmacy ships it each month and it is charged to our checking acct. Your Dr’s office will have to set up the order I can get the pharmacy name tomorrow that sends it we are in a very small town and no one here would do it.

I had a Moh's procedure several years ago for a squamous cell cancer on my forehead near the hairline. A little pain that night but none afterwards.