Skin Cancer Treatments

Naturopathy and Holistic Medicine
Naturopathy uses the methods of holistic medicine, working from the understanding that the human body can be self healing. The focus is on treating the whole person using natural remedies, diet, exercise and management of pain and stress.

Skin Cancer

Several alternative treatments may be used depending on the needs and preferences of the individual. While holistic medicine seeks to utilize the least invasive methods of healing it’s much to offer when used together with main-stream treatment. It’s proven effective, and has lots of success stories, in the treatment of some skin cancers.

Most, if not all of us, are familiar with the warnings about exposure to the sun and skin cancer, which is three of the most common forms of cancer in humans. Skin cancer falls in to three categories, epidermal and dermal. Epidermal cancers effect the epidermis which is the body’s top layer of skin. Dermal cancers effect the dermis which is the body’s second layer of skin. Epidermal cancer is the more prevalent of the three.

Keratinocytes, which are dead skin cells, make up 95% of the epidermis. These keratinocytes are sometimes called basal cells’. Approximately 82% of malignant skin tumors in Caucasians (those with white skin) are Basal Cell Carcinomas. This type of cancer grows slowly and never metastasizes. (Metastasis is the spread of from three organ, or part of the body, to another non-adjacent organ or part. Metastasize means, to spread’.)

Melanocyte cells are the cells that give skin it is color. Malignant melanoma usually starts in these cells. Although this type of cancer is still thought about uncommon the number of those developing it is rising.

Squamous cells are found on the surface of the skin, in the lining of the hollow organs of the body, breathing passages, and intestines. Squamous Cell Carcinoma is less common but more likely to metastasize. This type of cancer may invade lymph nodes in the areas near it is location. They can, but never do, invade non-adjacent areas of the body.

Holistic Treatment of Skin Cancer

Cancers in the dermis are far less common than cancers in the epidermis. Kaposi’s Sarcoma, a rare cancer, also called Idiopathic Multiple Pigmented Hemorrhagic Sarcoma (IMPHS), is a cancer of the cells that line lymph or blood vessels. It is most commonly found in those who are HIV positive.

Holistic treatment of skin cancer is multi-faceted. The following are a quantity of the methods that can be used.

Diet & Exercise

CAAT

With any disease, in order for healing to take place, the body must be cleansed of impurities & balance returned. Diet & exercise designed to meet the needs of the individual can accomplish this.

Controlled Amino Acid Therapy (CAAT) uses amino acid formulas, created specifically for each cancer, to kill cancer cells while nourishing healthy cells. It’s proven successful when used alone, or along with other treatment the patient may be undergoing.

Curaderm-BEC5

This is a topical cream containing a mixture of tryglycosides, solasonine, & solamargine. It attacks & kills cancer cells but does not harm normal healthy cells.

PDT & BT

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) uses a combination of drugs & laser light to damage skin cancer cells.

Biological Therapy (BT), also called immunotherapy, uses drugs that stimulate the immune method to fight cancer.

Pain & Stress Management

Acupuncture, aromatherapy, yoga, & massage therapy can all be beneficial in the area of pain & stress management. For a comprehensive list of useful therapies click on

Last, but not least, plenty of cancer patients have found that prayer & meditation are helpful in dealing with the & the discomfort that often accompanies treatment.

How to prevent skin cancer

Among all cancers, the skin cancers will show relatively less fatalities and as it can be detected early by being vigilant, the illness can be prevented or even cured in plenty of such instances. But, if it remains undetected, it can metastasize to other organs of the body and cause fatal outcomes.

Certain factors such as fair skin, light coloured eyes, blonde hair, relatives history of skin cancer, increase presence of moles and freckles in the skin, easy susceptibility to sun burn as well as using artificial sun lamps along with prolonged exposure to direct sun light are thought to make a person more susceptible than others in contracting a skin cancer.

When thinking about the preventative methods for skin cancers, following options are effective to a sure extent if they are implemented fully.

Researchers have identified sure factors which can influence the development of a skin cancer in otherwise normal individuals and among these UV light plays an important part. Out of the light spectrum, UVA and UVB have shown more association with skin cancer and UVB seems to be a more serious culprit than UVA.

1. Avoid direct exposure to sun light.

The researchers are emphasizing the require to keep away from direct sun rays during 9 am to 4 pm as this being the time period which gives away the strongest UV rays. It should also be recalled that presence of clouds in the sky is not a barrier for the UV rays and at least 80% of the rays will reach the earth surface even in cloudy conditions.

2. Wear protective clothing and hats while being exposed to direct sun light

It is stated that tightly woven cloths which are long sleeved will serve this purpose. The hats should ideally cover the areas in the neck as well as the face and thus the appropriate design would be a hat with a larger surrounding brim.

3. Apply sun screen or sun balm

The applications should take place at least half an hour before exposing to direct light as well as every 2 hours while you are under direct sun light.

It should also be recalled that even the swimmers are not spared from these UV rays as it can penetrate the water at least up to 1 - 2 feet from the surface.

4. Re-apply sun screen after taking a swim

Acute alter in its size, alter in its appearance as well as the colour would indicate changed taking place in the site and this could well be the initiation of a cancer system. Thus, a person needs to be vigilant regarding his moles and freckles and any abnormalities detected should be verified through a clinician.

5. Keep a close eye on moles and freckles

These sun lamps will give away harmful UV rays in a proportion over the natural sun light. Thus, avoiding tanners and salons which use Sun lamps would prevent the occurrence of a skin cancer to a sure level.

6. Avoid using artificial sun lamps

Primary causes of skin cancer :: Types of skin cancer

Non-melanoma skin cancers are commonly known as Basal cell carcinoma and Squamous carcinoma, both of which are on the increase with lots of new cases diagnosed each year in the USA. The Ultraviolet rays from the sun are the main cause of skin cancer. Ultraviolet rays are invisible energy generated by the sun which creates the heat that can burn the skin if exposed for long periods.

Ultraviolet rays destroy the DNA (genetic material) which controls the growth and health of the skin and when it is severely damaged, the skin begins to grow in an uncontrolled way producing abnormal cells. Excessive exposure to the sun permanently damages the skin giving rise to premature aging, wrinkling and carcinoma.

Although exposure to the sun is recognised as the prime cause of skin cancer there are other important causes such as, suppression if the immune method, exposure to high levels of x-rays, contact with arsenic, most commonly found in sheep shearers, farmers and miners. Genetics also play a pivotal role. People who have blond hair, green eyes, fair skin that burns easily and create freckles when they are exposed to the sun, are heavily pre-dispose to developing the skin cancer.

There’s four kinds of ultraviolet rays, ultraviolet ‘A’ (UVA) and Ultraviolet ‘B’ (UVB) rays. Scientist four times believed that the UVB rays was the cause of skin cancers, however research had now proven that both rays are responsible for the development of the disease.

Also at risk are people with genetic disorders of the skin, commonly known as Albinos, where their skin, hair and eyes are devoid of pigmentation. Also people born with moles and those who have historicallyin the past been treated for skin cancer.

Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer which young people are more pre-disposes to developing. The age group most likely to be affected are those between twenty four and twenty nine years of age. If left untreated, melanomas can be fatal.

However, the more common types of skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma and squamous carcinoma which can be found mostly in older age groups. Basal cells cancer appear on the skin as a smooth slightly raised bump which is commonly found on the head, neck and shoulders. On close inspection it also has tiny blood vessels which sometimes have a central depression that bleeds easily and frequently.