Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is the name given to cancer treatments that use the immune system to attack cancer cells.

An immunotherapy cream called imiquimod (Aldara®) stimulates the immune system and may be used to treat some small, superficial basal cell cancers or Bowen's disease. It’s usually used in areas where surgery may be difficult or for people who have more than one tumour.

You will be given the cream to take home and asked to apply it once a day for a number of weeks. Some redness or crusting of the skin occurs during the treatment but there should be no permanent scarring. If the skin reaction is very strong your doctor may give you a steroid cream to use.

Occasionally the cream may cause shivers with flu-like symptoms. If this is the case, you should let your doctor or specialist nurse know as they may advise you to stop using it.