Hi,
I'm joining the Aldara group :) To my horror I have been recently diagnosed with a BCC (small nodular) on my face (nose) and I've chosen the Aldara cream hoping that it will work given the small size of the BCC (3 mm). I think it's a good non surgical option. I'm scared of surgery and of being left disfigured, so I chose Aldara as it seems to be best compared to the other non surgical options (freezing and PDT). I felt that, even if it will not work or the effect will be incomplete, it can be a good adjunctive therapy before surgery, as at least it will shrink it and activate the immune system so no abnormal cells are left behind.
I am due to start on it at the end of the week and will update the progress/or the lack of it here.
I have few questions for you guys, those who managed to complete the 6 weeks/ or undergoing treatment now:
- Is there anyone that had more positive experiences with Aldara? Is this treatment always causing horrible side effects or it can be manageable depending on the surface of skin affected ? If only a small area is treated, would the redness/scabs extend to the whole nose?
- If the area affected is the face, and you had side effects on the moderate severe spectrum (like scabs/crusts on face, not talking about the flu like symptoms), how you managed around work ( was off work necessary at times if being in a front line job ?)
- Is the original lesion completely off at the end of treatment, if it worked - with new skin underneath a scab? Or it's still there as a flattened mark? In the short - medium term, how you have found the treatment?
- How can you find for sure if the treatment worked? Is it just on clinical aspect/clearance and dermatoscopic aspect?
- Has anyone heard about OCT (Optical coherence tomography) for skin being done in UK, and if so, where? I know it's there somewhere but I cannot find more, best provider and how much it costs. I feel there should be more information about it on relevant websites like bad/pals and nhs, and it's a shame there isn't much about it (talking about PATIENT OPTIONS AND ACCESS TO TREATMENT)...This is a non invasive diagnostic tool saving your skin of biopsy /surgery. It can be extremely helpful before and after treatment, showing how deep a lesion is and if it was completely cured after.
- Has anyone heard about any other new treatments offered by NHS? On the alternative treatment side, has anyone tried any Frankincense or Tea tree essential oil with any benefit at all ?
Thank you for having me in the group and thanks in advance for any answers. Take care, speak soon.
SG X
