You may remember a few posts ago I mentioned that I had expected to pay $400 for an item and it only cost me $32. Well it was for Aldara or Imiquimod cream which is used in the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC).
I’ve suffered from BCC’s for years as a result of too much exposure to the harsh Oz sun in my youth. I’ve had a lot of slash work done on my face but the surgeon gave me a prescription for Aldara which you use for 6 weeks. It stimulates the immune system and brings the hidden BCC’s to the surface and the skin cells die leaving you with a lovely complexion again. Well, lets just settle for any improvement to an already ugly mug. At the moment though, ugly is the word, as my nose and forehead are very red and blistered indeed.
I thought it was $400 for a 6 week treatment but I picked up the prescription and glanced at the packet on the way to the checkout and only noticed the first amount and not the one on the right. There is a repeat so you’d have to pay $159.95 twice. I handed over my credit card and you could knock me over with a feather when she asked for $32.90.
So I discovered it was on the PBS scheme where a large range of common medications are subsidised by the taxpayer. The surgeon told me yesterday that I would have been up for the full amount if it had been for treating sun kerotosis and not BCC’s.
I suppose I could have avoided all this if sun cream and hats had been invented when I was young.
The title? For my OS readers, click here
I can’t believe you had to Google Oompa Loompa
So okay, I don’t know every story out there and I never read or was ever read anything about Willy Wonka. I read a lot as a kid but that one slipped by me. I never had kids either so maybe that left me somewhat a social misfit.
DB.. you’re older than hats?! Wowzers!
I played cricket all day without one. As my good Irish mum used to say, “Ijit!”
No “Baggy Green” or their equivalent? Don’t tell me you’re older than Bradman!
Thomas – I was only kidding. I only had myself to blame by not wearing a hat.
I thought it was slip slop slap… as in slip her a twenty, give her a sloppy kiss and get yourself slapped…??
Here in the US, there is a vitamin D deficiency epidemic, because our obedient populace is now deathly afraid of a little sun…
I got lucky and inherited my Mum’s Mum’s American Indian skin (as opposed to our Scots Irish side) so I can take a few rays now and then.
(In the peak of summer, I look like an Oompa Loompa!)
Scott – You got me with Oompa Loompa. Had to Google that one. Repressed childhood or something.
I’m allergic to sun screen, the last time I put on sun screen (because my fair-haired, fair-skinned, haze-eyed, blond gal pal from Indiana insisted I wear it) it ate right through three layers of skin. I had open sores on my nose and cheeks for a week, and beet red rash on my arms. I’ve lived all my life in Arizona under the constant blazing sun, and when I was a child it was considered healthy to be out in the sun all day, I guess my natural tan has offered me some protection, either that or I’ve developed the skin of a desert tortoise.
AZ – They tell me the hole in the ozone layer is at it’s biggest right over the top of us. My father has been riddled with skin cancers too so the genes didn’t help.
The “Title” has been with us for so long, it comes as a surprise to consider it is really a local thing. Now of course we have the other problem that our children are not getting enough vitamin D! One can’t win!
I was surprised how far back that campaign and jingle went. Getting old fast.
Great deal, but is it working? How about a before and after picture.
June – It is working. It’s supposed to go red and raw and it’s doing that. I’ll spare you a before and after photo.