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In
the Autumn of 2005 a pin prick scab appeared near John’s right eye. He had
it removed by curettage. A biopsy revealed it was pre-cancerous.
John
had to use 5-Fluorouracil cream on his face twice a day for a month. As a consequence
his skin became red and inflamed.
Below is his final blog entry... January
2006 It's now two months since I stopped using
the cream. I've just looked back on the series of photos taken in October and
it makes grim viewing. I'm shocked at how bad I looked, at times. But
look at me now! My skin hasn't felt so good forty years, and I mean forty years.
During that period, just water on my face would make my skin sting, and after
a shower or swimming I would rush to use the moisturiser to ease the discomfort
and delay the skin drying and flaking. I'm still using moisturiser, but not out
of desperation. My next visit to see Dr Varma is
next month. Monday 7th November  | | Before
and after... |
I visited Dr Varma for
a consultation at the QMC on Friday afternoon. He was pleased with the progress.
It could take as long as another two months for the redness to go, but I don't
care, I'm already thrilled to bits with how my face looks and feels. It was worth
all the 'pain'. Friday 28th October There
now follows an interlude of 4 days. What will I look like next Wednesday? Thursday
27th October Last night was the most painful
so far. Couldn't sleep as different parts of my face stung at random. My chin
is the most fiery. Dr Varma has told me to come off the cream now, and has warned
that there may be more pain to come: "But it will be worth it." I now
need to apply plenty of moisturiser and when it really hurts a cream called Eumovate,
that Dr Varma calls the 'fire extinguisher'! Wednesday
26th October I know I've joked about this,
but yesterday afternoon I really did scare some children. I was entering a clothing
shop in town, they saw me and ran back to their parents in a state of fear. The
truth is I feel very conspicuous and awkward in public, explaining to people I
meet that the yellowy brown scabs on my chin aren't contagious. This
week has been the worst so far and the ithcing has kept me awake. Sunday, was
the worst. Every sore on my face itched, but at different times, rather like Christmas
tree lights going on and off at random! On the positive
side, my family tell me that if you look at the two sides of my face, you can
see that healing is taking place and the 'emerging' skin looks really good. Monday
24th October At work in the BBC, my colleagues
have been very supportive and kind and tell me my face doesn't look as bad as
they had expected it to. This weekend I attended the annual beer festival in Nottingham.
Friends who haven't seen me for some time were more direct. "What the hell's
happened to your face?" was a milder comment!
Yesterday when I
woke up I noticed many specks of blood on my pillow. This was a bit of a shock, and
last night the itching was so unbearable that I resorted to what Dr Sharma called
the fire extinguisher: Eumovate Cream. It worked, just about! Friday
21st October Neil Heath who has looked
after this item on the website and taken the daily photos, has just shown me the
re-designed page. He has put the first photo, taken before the treatment began
next to today's picture. It's a big shock to see how much my face has changed! Weds
19th, Thurs 20th October The worst bit has
to be shaving. I dry shave twice a day, you have to do it. I tried putting it
off, but that was worse!! By the way, if you're wondering
why there are new photos each day, it's as a record for the QMC. Dr Sandeep Varma,
consultant dermatologist, has never had a daily record and needs it for his long
term research. Tuesday 18th October What
fascinated me is that although I'm putting the 5-Fluorouracil cream on the whole
of my face (except eye lids and lips) it is so blotchy. It may feel like an 'acid',
but I guess it just attacks the damaged tissue. So despite the blotchy effect,
in places my skin hasn't looked so healthy for ages! Monday
17th October You know when you slap moisturiser
on your face and some goes up your nose? Well, that's been happening with
the 5-Fluorouracil cream, the resulting pain in those delicate nasal passages
has been excruciating! Fortunatley, Dr Varma prescribed some cream that would
in his words 'put out the fire'. Pleased to report it did just that! Friday
14th October The accumulation of cream on
my face made me feel so unclean, I had a shower and washed my hair. It made me
feel a bit better, less 'gungey'. But now the skin is so tender I had to be careful
as I patted it dry. Thursday 13th
October Last night the urge to scratch my
forehead and nose was strong. This morning it seems it have settled down again.
The interview with Dr Sandeep Varma was broadcast on the mid-morning show and
received calls from fellow sun damage sufferers. Wednesday
12th October One week behind me, four to go.
My skin is tender in places, and having even a dry shave isn't pleasant. Tuesday
11th October It's beginning to look bad now
and I've noticed people backing away from me. Or is this all in my mind? Monday
10th October My grandaughter asked why my
face was so red. I looked in the mirror, it was blotchy and I had to go to a charity
function in the evening. Felt self-conscious. Putting the cream on, I thought,
"It's like spreading acid on my face." Friday
7th October I feel like a fraud! I looked
in the mirror last night and thought 'My face hasn't looked this good for a long
time.' The ointment seems to be having a moisturising effect! Thursday
6th October It's stinging slightly, but still
looks ok. Will I frighten children over Halloween?! Wednesday
5th October My skin just feels ‘gungey’
from the ointment. Tuesday 4th
October I'm worried if it will hurt and how
soon it will look unsightly. | 
