Aldara: Is This Skin Cancer Treatment Worth the Side Effects?

If you have skin cancer, and your dermatologist has recommended using Aldara Cream, be sure you know all of the risks and side-effects of the prescription drug Aldara before starting your treatment.

This summer I discovered a dry patch on my left nostril which turned out to be a tumor of the follicle. My dermatologist recommended Aldara.

Aldara Cream, the prescription drug manufactured by 3M, stimulates your immune system to get your body to kill off the cancer cells. Many dermatologists believe Aldara is a wonder drug because it can get rid of precancerous cells without leaving a scar.

But when I did an online search of Aldara, I found horror stories about people who have had their health permanently ruined after using Aldara.

My dermatologist assured me that she prescribes Aldara all the time and no one has had any trouble. She said I may get a scab, but because the spot on my nose was so tiny it shouldn't be any big deal.

I picked up my $50 Aldara prescription (it would have been $497.49 without insurance) and started my six week treatment plan. I was to apply a thin layer of Aldara cream to my nose at bedtime for five nights per week for a total of six weeks.

The first week of using Aldara I noticed that I was dizzy. I was still able to work, but any time I walked around I felt like the world was slightly tilted. Toward the end of the week I experienced stomach aches and nausea.

The second week the spot on my nose started to get red and a scab developed. I also experienced a slight headache, stiff neck, sinus pressure, a plugged ear, light sensitivity, increased roaring of my tinnitus and diarrhea. When I talked to a pharmacist about my diarrhea he said he doubted it was caused by the Aldara. After all, how can a topical cream cause diarrhea?

I checked the patient education sheet I received with my prescription and it listed the following possible side effects: scabbing, burning, itching, back pain, flu-like symptoms, headache, fever, tiredness, muscle aches, and diarrhea.

The third week of my treatment is when I realized I had become extremely depressed and anxious. I cried all of the time and I had no desire to do any of the activities I normally enjoy. I suspected that Aldara was causing my emotional reactions, but once again no one believed that Aldara could have that effect.

I then developed an aversion to most foods. I started to lose weight because food just didn't appeal to me.

By the fourth week the scabbing on my nose was pretty intense. Since Aldara attacks the cancer cells surrounding the affected area, my entire left nostril turned into a big ugly, oozing scab. I dreaded and avoided all social interactions

I alternated between feeling dizzy, having diarrhea and being totally nauseous. I had to eat saltine crackers during the day just to keep the nausea away. One night my dizziness and nausea got so bad I threw up. I was also an emotional wreck. I just wanted it all to go away.

By the fifth week my nose looked horrendous. I avoided going out in public. When I talked to people I found myself turning my head so they couldn't see my grotesque nostril.

During the sixth week I was tempted to give up early. I just couldn't take the physical and emotional pain any longer. My husband convinced me that I needed to finish the treatment plan if I wanted it to be successful.

At the end of my six week prescription I was still left with a huge ugly scab. I applied Aloe Vera gel to the scab which seemed to help it heal quickly. Within a few days the scab came off. To everyone's amazement there was beautiful looking skin hiding under that ugly scab.

My dermatologist was practically giddy when she saw how good my nostril looked. In her book I was another one of her success cases. She didn't seem very interested in hearing how hellish the last six weeks had been.

It has been about a month now since I stopped using Aldara. Luckily my emotions have returned to normal and my appetite is gradually returning. I feel like I'm constantly fighting off the flu, but it is the flu season. And, I must admit, my nose looks amazing. Even the redness from my biopsy is gone.

So was it worth six weeks of hell? I still haven't decided. The awful memories of my six week ordeal makes it hard to ever imagine going through it again.

Before deciding on using Aldara, here are some things to consider:

If you have any auto-immune diseases do not take Aldara. Aldara activates your immune system which can be very dangerous to anyone with a preexisting or latent auto-immune disease.

If you are caring for an elderly person and the doctor recommends Aldara, don't allow it. I feel it is too risky to use on elderly people.

If you are suicidal, or suffer from severe depression or anxiety, have someone monitor your emotional status while taking Aldara.

Do not use Aldara on open sores. Open sores allow Aldara to enter your bloodstream which can cause a considerable amount of damage. If your scab has opened up, wait for it to scab up again before applying more Aldara cream.

Do not use Aldara internally, near mucous membranes, near your eyes or mouth, or inside your nose. Never let a physician convince you to apply Aldara in your vagina or anus.

If you are experiencing any type of allergic reaction such as throat constriction or extreme itching, stop using Aldara immediately.

Aldara should not be left on the skin for longer than eight hours at a time. Use as little as possible. Never use more than a packet a day. Always wash your hands after applying the cream.

Keep a journal of your side-effects. Doctors need to be aware of how wide-spread the side-effects are from using this drug.

If you experience any life-changing health affects after using Aldara, be sure to tell your doctor that you had been using Aldara. Since many patients are prescribed Aldara through their dermatologist, it is often left out of their medical charts.

My personal theory is that preexisting or latent health conditions can become severe after the use of Aldara. But since few people make the connection between Aldara and their sudden worsened condition it could be years before doctors see the pattern.

If you have had a good or bad experience with Aldara, please leave a comment at the bottom of the page.