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Studies find combination topical immunotherapy has a cure rate above 95%

When I started my practice in 2007, I looked for a low-cost alternative to skin cancer surgery. Dermatologists in Australia, Europe, and the UK were using Imiquimod 5% Cream, sometimes with 5-Fluorouracil, to treat basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma.

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Adding Tretinoin 0.1% Cream to the combination, I created "The Shen Cocktail." Tretinoin 0.1% Cream peels the top layer of skin. Imiquimod 5% Cream and 2% 5-Fluorouracil signal an immune response to attack cancerous and precancerous skin cells.

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I've used "The Shen Cocktail" on over 5,000 patients over a ten-year period. Researchers at University of Miami have concluded the cure rate for this combination topical immunotherapy is above 95%.

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John T. Shen, M.D.

Research: About

Podcast: Effective, Non-Surgical Treatment for Basal Cell and Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Learn Skin with
Dr. Raja and Dr. Hadar

The treatment of Melanoma In Situ with Telemedicine and a Combination of Imiquimod, 5-fluorouracil, and Tretinoin

San Diego Dermatology Symposium (June 11-13 2021)

Cost-efficient and Non-surgical Method for Treating Primary Keratinocyte Carcinomas with a Combination of Topical Imiquimod, 5-fluorouracil and Tretinoin

San Diego Dermatology Symposium (June 11-13 2021)

A Non-Surgical and Cost-Effective Treatment Approach Employing Topical Imiquimod, 5-Fluorouracil, and Tretinoin for Primary Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology
March 2021

Treating Melanoma in Situ During a Pandemic with Telemedicine and a Combination of Imiquimod, 5-Fluorouracil, and Tretinoin

Dermatol Ther
January 17, 2021

Treating Keratinocyte Carcinomas with a Combination of Imiquimod, 5-fluorouracil, and Tretinoin Using Store-and-forward Telemedicine in the Age of Coronavirus Disease 2019 to Promote Social Distancing

Case Series, Volume 6, Issue 9, Pages 931-934
September 01, 2020
JAAD Case Reports

Combination Topical Chemotherapy for the Treatment of an Invasive Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Case report in February 2020, Volume 19, Issue 2 of Journal of Drugs in Dermatology

Non-Invasive Treatment of Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head or Neck

Poster presentation at the 2018 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology

The Progression of Dyspigmentation in Patients with Skin of Color
Treated with Combination Therapy of Imiquimod, 5-Fluorouracil, and
Tretinoin for Keratinocyte Carcinomas

Poster presentation at Skin of Color Update 2022 in NYC

Research: Features
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