A Non-Surgical Approach to Treating Actinic Keratosis and Early Skin Cancers

If you have actinic keratosis, superficial basal cell cancer or superficial squamous cell carcinoma, your doctor may recommend topical chemotherapy. These cancer-fighting drugs come in the form of a cream or lotion (Aldara, Efudix & Tolak) that is applied daily, often for many weeks. It’s convenient since you can do it at home, and since there is no surgery, the results are typically cosmetically appealing. However, this treatment isn’t appropriate for all types of cancer. And in most cases, you will have to minimize exposure to direct sunlight during the treatment period.