Actinic (solar) keratosis

I rarely post but I've just been diagnosed with that too - a small spot on my nose. GP has prescribed Fluorouricil. It is unavailable everywhere - no idea why so I'm still waiting. She says it's right down at the bottom of the dangerous skin lesions and not many of these solar or actinic lesions become cancerous.

Thanks Grandmajean.
My friend in Australia has had fluorourcil and it cured two squamous cell carcinomas, so you are on excellent medication.
I may suggests DS asks about it.

I've recently had actinic keratosis on my face and was just given the all clear last week. I was referred to a Dermatologist who prescribed Efudix ointment used for 28 days and then I had to wait for two months and then let the doctor see it again. It's pre Squamous cell cancer, I was told. Nowhere near as bad as melanoma, but nevertheless needs to be taken seriously, apparently.
From now on I have to wear Factor 50 sun cream every day of the year.
I hope this reassures your DS that it's quite easy to treat.

Sorry, just noticed fluorourcil isn’t available. I wonder you haven’t a prescription for something else, there are several recommendationed.

I’ve had 3 medications unavailable recently, all common things as well.

Midnightblue -the GP is not keen to prescribe anything else so I'm going to give it a week then start making a nuisance of myself.

Grandmajean, I hope that works for you.

Henetha, glad your treatment was successful. He is bald, so for year round, hats should be ok, but I will pass on the sunscreen advice for the rest of his body where it’s exposed.

I've treated quite a few patches on my face with Diclofenac. They do tend to look worse before they get better but its worked well so far.

I have tiny patches of this on my forehead. The dermatology consultant said it is pre-pre-cancerous (that's not a typo) and I was prescribed Efudix. It's working very well and I just need to see my doctor in a month's time to check progress. I use Factor 50 on my face and hands every day.

I noticed some AK on my nose, felt rough and then I felt a change so I went to see a dermatologist privately as I know there could be a potential for squamous cell cancer. Dermatologist agreed with me and we decided that he would zap it once and for all via cryosurgery ie liquid nitrogen nitrogen. That was successful and my follow up was all clear

Total cost was £400 and two visits. I was seen and the procedure was done 7 days after initial contact by me. I never involved my gp

Grandmajean

I rarely post but I've just been diagnosed with that too - a small spot on my nose. GP has prescribed Fluorouricil. It is unavailable everywhere - no idea why so I'm still waiting. She says it's right down at the bottom of the dangerous skin lesions and not many of these solar or actinic lesions become cancerous.

I had the same and the cream cleared it up nicely.

I had a small spot of solar keratosis on my cheek about 10 years ago. It was treated with Diclofenac gel. It looked red and raw for a week or so but healed up completely with no scarring or change of skin colour. I use factor 50 moisturiser on my face all year and factor 50 sun cream when we actually get some sun.

You need to keep after it. My OH had them on the cheeks and they were removed using cryogenic treatment at a local health centre after GP referral.

I can understand your husband’s worry, Midnightblue. Key word is pre-cancerous. So not yet cancer. I’ve had an Actinic Keratosis frozen off my hand and something odd (GP didn’t know what it was) taken off my nose with Efudex. The biggest problem is getting a GP to look at it in the UK! I’ve now resorted to going for a private annual Skin/mole check. Worth every penny and gives peace of mind.

Interesting post as I’m being biopsied next week for an interesting thing on my décolletage . Hopefully it will be as simple as one of these creams!

Have one on face. It's been frozen about 4 times over the years. Goes away for a while but returns. Never been offered anything else and always done by GP surgery

I had Imiquimob cream, it caused unsightly scabbing but when the scabs fell away my skin was clear of both carcinoma and actinic keratosis

Efudix is available, at least it was 3 months ago. My doctor told me there was a shortage, gave me a paper prescription, and suggested ringing round all the local pharmacies, large and small. I did that, using a radius of 20 miles. I located it a a small pharmacy about 10 miles away. They only had two tubes left, but saved one for me. Maybe worth trying?

I had AK lesions on my face a few years back . Had photodynamic therapy which sadly didn’t work and so had Efudix (?) cream - which DID work very effectively, but takes a long time. I had to apply it alternate days for six weeks and then it took about another six weeks to heal up . Very unsightly as it was on my face , but happy it’s all sorted now . Friends said it wasn’t that unsightly but then they’re friends 🙂

Just bumping this up

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Thanks for the replies. It looks like there’s several options for treatment.
Friend in Australia says AK is very common there and usually treated with fluorouracil, which was effective for her for basal cell carcinoma.
It’s shocking that so many medications just aren’t availability.
I’ve had 3 medications not available at Boots recently, 2 prescriptions, and one over the counter. All were for simple ‘ailments’.
The assistant said they were even short of medication for type 2 diabetes.

Also has AK and prescribed Efudix. It makes the skin look worse to begin with the clears up nicely. Had to wait 24hrs for the ointment due to supply issues.

Removing keratosis (of any kind) is a breeze, the earlier you go. These days you’re in and out with nary a problem.

I had a keratosis growing big and outwardly on my left temple. It was time to remove it. By the time Dr looked at it, moved my hair all around, and I asked all my questions - it was removed! So swift! Less than two minutes. Benign.

They freeze the area, and excise it. Gone! You don’t feel a thing. I went home with a bandaid for 24 hrs. Nothing has returned to the area after several years.

Please do body checks on yourself for anything that looks suspicious. So important.

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