Cancer Treatment = Wrinkle Cream?

I was reading the online news this morning and came across an interesting article that seem to indicate that the topical chemotherapy Bob was using also holds promise as a wrinkle cream! 

Treatment with fluorouracil cream did cause the hideous "road rash" as expected, but after the treatment was stopped and the rash healed, actinic keratoses (pre-cancerous rough patches of skin) were greatly reduced and other types of skin damage were greatly improved. This includes wrinkles and dark spots (what some of us call "liver spots"). Another article about the same study also suggests that general skin color also improved from being sallow (yellowish) to a healthier pink. Still other articles say that the recovered skin is also much softer. 

An LA Times blog makes sure to note that the 2-week treatment is "no day at the spa," but goes into more detail about the effects of the treatment as well as the underlying causes of improvement.

So, as Magie indicated in an earlier post, there's a good reason that Bob's head looks better than it has in many months!

The cancer on Bob's head is gone.

Dr. Cho is pleased with Bob's head. He removed the excess dry skin on the hand and prescribed a new cream. He sent the prescription directly to Foothill Pharmacy (FP). When FP checked to see if it was covered, they got a message "prescription limit exceeded". I thought maybe it was because this cream would cost over $2700.00 and Bob has had some other very expensive prescriptions this year. FP gave me a copy of the computer screen with the message and a copy of the prescription. When we got home I called the insurance handler (CBCA) and told the lady my sad story. She was able to transfer me directly to Medco where I told another lady my sad story. She checked and found that the prescription should be covered and the copay would only be $20. She gave me the number of the help desk so that FP can call and talk to them about it. I called FP and gave the number to them and told them what Medco had told me. So someone will call the 800 number to hopefully get things squared away. If I don't hear back from Foothill by mid afternoon I will call them to see what's the scoop.

The new cream is to be put on the hand AND the head although the head appears to be fine. This cream is not a chemo cream but it could make his head and hand look nasty by the end of 6 weeks of application. Bob goes in after 3 weeks for an inspection. The cream is supposed to boost the immune system such that the immune system kills off any abnormal cells. I am also to put the cream on an area of Bob's face that Cho is not happy with. Whichever way the cream goes, Bob will not need to have surgery on his head. Since the cream comes in packets and you use one packet a day, the cream not used on the hand will be applied to the spot on his face and then whatever is left over in the packet will go on the head for any keritoses that might be lurking there.