Just diagnosed with Bowen's Disease.

Hi mistydog

I don't have bowels but I had to use effudex on a couple of areas on my face.... it took a few days for the areas to react. They became quite inflamed and sore which I was told was normal.  Several weeks for the soreness to heal.

I think the best thing you can do is contact your consultant and ask for specific advice on how to use it and for how long and what to expect...   you'll feel a lot better once you fully know what to expect and it'll help stop you worrying..   please keep in touch and let us know how you get on.

Thank you for the reply.....the issue is I haven't seen a consultant yet. Everything has been done via my GP remotely with emails and lots of pictures, mainly because there is a 45 week wait in my area for onward referral. My GP is really not that clued up and asked for advice and assistance from the Hospital under a 24 reply back process and got told off himself by the Hospital for marking his request for advice/support urgent!!  

Hi Mistydog sorry to hear you have been diagnosed with Bowens and are feeling petrified- I have felt like that too. GPs do seem to give you the Efudix prescription and expect you to get on with it ! Anyway I have used Efudex for 3 Bowens lesions on my lower leg. One last year and 2 very recently ( stopped using the Efudex a couple of weeks ago. I have also used it on my face. I would suggest using it as prescribed and then in 4 weeks send a photo to your GP or visit if you can and ask what they think. If you think the reaction is dramatic after 3 weeks ask your GP to advise then. I usually clean the area first with a damp cotton pad, let it dry and then apply a thin layer of Efudix and then let that soak in uncovered for an hour. I do not usually bother with steroid cream but I do use Aquaphor cream made by Eucerin after I have finished the course of Efudix which I find helps it to heal. This was how my helpful GP who specialises in Dermatology tells me to do it and I have had some good results. Please try not to panic and if you have any questions do not hesitate to ask me and I will try to help. Good luck xx

Hi Figgy....thank you so much for your reply and the helpful suggestions, I've just put it on for the first time now and will let you know how I get on!! Perhaps it won't be as bad as I fear......lol....

Also mine took longer to react to the Efudix -  about 7 days

Thank you. xx

I think you will be fine  let me know how you are getting on xx

Hi Mistydog4  I will join in the discussions  I am not new to this site as been on it now over 2 years as I have had 2 nasty basal cell cancers on my face.  However, I will join in as my husband has just been diagnosed with actinic keratosis on his face.  I mentioned it to my plastic surgeon at a routine check up last week and he had a consultation with him today.  He has been prescribed Efudix which he has to apply twice a day for three weeks, but we wont start it until beginning of July as we go away and didnt think it a good idea whilst we were away.  Her has told him not everyone has a reaction, but a good reaction means it is working and doings its job.  Like you we are a bit worried about it as mine were operated on and skin grafts etc.  Apparently if left untreated they do turn into squarmous cell cancers, so it is important to try the cream first.  He has a consultation scheduled in 3 months to see how he is going on.  If things get bad we have to stop and put moisturiser on and get in touch with him.  Keep in touch with your progress and I will keep you up-dated with my husbands progress when he starts using it.  I feel gp's are very limited in dermatology unless you are lucky enough to have a gp with dermatology training.  Good Luck and try not to worry too much, but know it is difficult, as I was dreadful when mine was diagnosed, but lived to tell the tale.  I would add we our both in our 70's and not sun worshippers x

Thank you for sharing your journey with me.....I will keep this thread updated. Only on day 2 now so nothing's happened yet. I've always kept out of the sun due to being fair and unable to tan etc, so I am so surprised with my diagnosis. I've taken vitamin D for over 30 years as I stay out of the sun so much, which stood me in good stead for the pandemic.....Covid is one bullet I managed to dodge!! Thanks again for the info. xx

Efudix update.....8 days in and no reaction at all.....not even redness, will continue for the 3-4 weeks twice daily as instructed...perhaps I'm just a late starter.