Skin Cancer—What We Don’t Know Could Kill Us
Introduction
The chance of being afflicted with skin cancer is, unfortunately, a significant danger these days. In fact, approximately 4,300,000 Americans will come down with basal cell carcinoma (the most common type of skin cancer) each year and an additional 1,000,000 people will come down with squamous cell carcinoma (the second most common type).
In total, about 18,000 people will die from these combined forms of non-melanoma types of skin cancer.
The good news is that most people that are diagnosed with skin cancer don’t die from the disease. In fact, the prognosis is generally good for the non-melanoma cases diagnosed annually, provided that the disease is caught early and treated aggressively.
Our best bet, of course, is to avoid becoming one of the 9,500 cases diagnosed EVERY DAY, and the more we know and the more precautions we take against this troubling disease, the better the likelihood of avoiding being diagnosed.
Skin Cancer Facts You May Not Know
--Getting acquainted with the most common myths and misconceptions regarding skin cancer is an integral part of being well-prepared. By knowing what these are, we can develop a better understanding than the average person. Some popular myths include:
- “Avoiding sunlight altogether is a great way to prevent skin cancer.”
- “Skin cancer is an old person’s disease.”
- “Skin tanning lamps don’t pose too much of a risk, in general.”
- “You should always be able to see signs of skin cancer.”
- “Skin cancer isn’t deadly and it’s easy to treat.”
- “Areas of the skin that are not exposed to the sun don’t develop cancer.”
- “Skin cancer always comes with salient symptoms you should immediately be able to feel or see.”
- “In general, surgery permanently does away with skin cancer.”
--Skin cancer can develop on any surface of the skin, including the bottom of your feet and the scalp. Other locations that may surprise some people include: the genitalia, anywhere on or inside the mouth, between digitals and beneath fingernails and toenails.
--Even if you or someone in your family has had skin cancer, you may not be able to immediately recognize a cancerous skin growth. Some key features or characteristics to look out for include:
- Red, scaly patches
- Sores that don’t heal well, or at all, or which have irregular borders or are multi-colored
- Moles that simply look “different” than other moles you’ve seen, or which change in color, shape or texture
- Skin growths that are weird or dome-shaped
- Dark-looking (the darker the more concerning) growths, patches or streaks anywhere in the body
- A growth that tends to bleed, ache or itch constantly or persistently
--You should be aware that having a biopsy isn’t without risks. Yes, a biopsy is an effective (and sometimes the only option) way to diagnose cancer but studies show that, for example, once cancer is cut into, the cancer may start to grow more rapidly. Some experts theorize that it’s not the actual “cutting” that is the problem but the fact that oxygen is introduced into the cancer growth.
Also, as always, any kind of surgery can lead to dangerous infections that can seriously complicate matters for a patient. Researchers continue to look for less invasive and potentially dangerous ways to diagnose cancer but, until then, biopsies remain a necessary “evil.”
It should also be noted that, sometimes, wrong diagnoses are rendered because of botched or rushed biopsies—which is why you should always request a second opinion, preferably by another lab or technician. A botched biopsy may inspire treatment for the wrong type of cancer, cancer at a more (or less) advanced stage than diagnosed, or something that is merely a benign tumor (or another form of skin condition altogether).
--There are different types of skin cancer—i.e., melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, etc. Each requires a different type of treatment plan or approach. Some skin cancers, for example, grow faster, are more difficult to treat and pose a more significant threat to your life and well-being.
--Some forms of skin cancer (e.g., melanoma) can be life-threatening, even when treated promptly and aggressively. Fortunately, though, these forms of cancer are rarer than the less dangerous ones.
--Beware of precancerous lesions (a.k.a., “actinic keratosis”). These tend to develop in areas most exposed to the sun, in the elderly and can help identify some skin growths before they become malignant.
--You should know that photodynamic and so-called blue light therapies can pose some generally-not-advertised-by-the-medical-community risks—most ostensibly, damage to the eyes or macular degeneration and/or retinal damage. Since the “blue light” is close in intensity to the UV rays suspected of being carcinogenic, it is also feared that the special light used for these therapies pose a long-term threat of malignant neoplasms (cancer).
These concerns are, of course, in high contrast to the often-cited claims that these therapies are “100% risk free.”
Folks, there is no such a thing as a 100% risk-free or side-effect free medical treatment, especially if said treatment contains something (UV radiation) that has already been proven to be carcinogenic and, more than likely, cataract-inducing.
--It must be remembered that none of the treatments presently available for skin cancer are actual “cures,” but, rather, experimental treatment options; as such, none of these treatment tools can guarantee that the treated cancer will not come back. Obviously, what we need are actual cures.
--Some people may not be aware that some forms of cancer (e.g., cutaneous lymphoma) can travel or metastasize to the skin or manifest themselves exteriorly. In fact, lymphomas can also travel from the skin to lymph nodes or to organs inside the body. It must also be noted that cutaneous lymphoma can be mistaken for eczema or psoriasis and other visible skin conditions.
--People that decide to use sunscreen to protect themselves against skin cancer, need to make sure that you they use this tool properly and consistently. For instance, make sure the sunscreen sports an SPF of 30 or higher; secondly, make sure that you use the sunscreen repeatedly, since its effects can wear off over time. This last caveat is especially troubling if the sunscreen is water-based.
As a final note, you should know that some experts wonder if, rather than preventing cancer, the chemicals in sunscreen may actually promote cancer. Unfortunately, much of the scientific evidence that exists in their favor has been paid by for by the same people that manufacture them—as such, what we think we know about their efficacy has mostly come from, shall we say, “financially-conflicted sources.”
--Although the medical establishment hasn’t officially accepted most, the following substances are thought to be able to help prevent, treat or cure cancer:
- Selenium
- Cannabis (hemp seed oil, cannabis sativa, etc.)
- Olive oil
- Acupuncture & acupressure
- Hypnotherapy
- Yoga
- Mediation
- Turmeric
- Reishi mushrooms
- Melatonin
- Spring water (minus fluoride & other carcinogenic water cleaners)
- Baking soda
- (Organic) Garlic cloves
- Apricot seed kernels
Conclusion
Although there is, as yet, officially no cure for skin cancer, most forms of the disease are treatable. More importantly, many experts agree that these diseases are preventable.
The more we know about the disease, the better our chances are in promptly spotting the disease, getting it treated and, in best case scenarios, preventing it.
“Here’s to your health and wellness!”
References & Resources:
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/skin-cancer/how-can-i-tell-if-i-have-skin-cancer
https://www.cityofhope.org/breakthroughs/christiane-querfeld-on-the-many-types-of-skin-cancer
http://www.thesleuthjournal.com/cancer-protocols-dont-want-know/
https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/skin-cancer-facts
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