Today is officially Day 12 of my 5-FU / Efudex treatment (though technically Day 11 after taking one rest day). I’m now deep in the peak reaction stage — and this is the most intense part of the journey so far.
My cheeks are the most painful area right now. Symptoms include:
- Burning like a severe sunburn
- Random “bee sting” sensations
- Tightness, itching, and some drainage
- Skin so sensitive it hurts to touch
- Hard to sleep, especially as a side-sleeper
To manage the discomfort, I’m using cold saline on 4x4s and applying Vaseline at night. It’s not easy, and I won’t sugar-coat it — how it looks is exactly how it feels.
I missed a few updates because of the holiday, but I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.If you’re also going through 5-FU, feel free to share your experience. This community really helps.