The United States is gripped in what can be termed an epidemic.1 You may be among the one in five Americans who suffer annually from skin cancer. The figures for basal cell, squamous cell and dangerous melanoma skin cancers have continued to rise. This is particularly true for young women.
If you find yourself facing this dilemma, educate yourself on what treatment help will help you survive. You are fortunate in having several options. These range from the traditional to alternative methods. It is up to you to make the final decision, but never do so without first talking to your doctor, a dermatologist and a holistic medical professional. They will be able to provide you with the latest information about both effective and popular treatments including the Holistic Approach.
Holistic Approaches – Treating Skin Cancer with Alternative Methods
Holistic skin cancer treatments are based on a simple principle. You need to address the entire body. You treat more than the symptoms of the disease. In doing so, you may consult a naturopath, a homeopath or turn to traditional Chinese medicine. Nutrition may also play a role. In fact, some of the more popular forms of homeopathic medicine used to treat cancer involves altering your diet. 
If you want to adopt this approach, you need to look at what you are eating carefully. According to the A. P. John Cancer Institute, you need to include certain cancer fighting foods in your diet. For skin cancer, you would need to decrease the intake of amino acids. Among the foods required in your diet are those high in selium, vitamin D and anti-oxidants. Green tea, licorice, whey and parsley are examples of what you would need to include in your diet.2 You can take many of these in supplement form.
While the idea may seem a little far-fetched, research does indicate diet plays a role in combating skin cancer.3 There is also evidence to support other forms of holistic medicine. Much of it, however, is anecdotal. The American Cancer Society believes complementary methods are more likely to help relieve the pain than to help cure.4 More scientific support lies behind the traditional forms of treatment.
What’s in a Tradition?
In traditional treatment, you need to take into consideration several factors.
Your options will depend upon the stage of the cancer, the type of cancer – basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, actinic keratosis or melanoma, the size and location of the tumor and your overall health and medical history.5 The first option may be any of these basic treatments:
- Topical Treatment –You apply this directly to the affected part. Common topicals are vitamin D derivatives, non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and retinoids – drugs in the same family as vitamin A. Topical treatments for melanoma may consist of imiqimod – a drug designed to stimulate the body’s production of interferon alpha.
- Minor Surgical Procedures – removal of the tumor from the skin with a small blade (shave excision) or scalpel (simple excision)
- Curettage and Electrodessication – A curette (a spoon-shaped, sharp tool) cuts out the tumor. The area is then treated with an electrode to halt any bleeding and annihilate any cancer cells in the wound’s fringe.
- MOHS surgery – During the surgery, the tumor is removed from the skin in thin layers. After each layer is removed, it is examined under a microscope before proceeding to the next. Surgery continues until the microscope shows normal, healthy tissue.
- Cryosurgery (cryotherapy) – The cancerous cells are frozen, usually by liquid nitrogen, using a special medical instrument in order. The application of extreme cold kills the skin cells that are diseased.
- General surgery for melanoma – The initial step is always removal of the tumor and the adjacent tissue. After this procedure, you may undergo, singly or combined, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or immunotherapy.6
Instead of Surgery
Surgery may not be enough to take care of your problem. This is certainly the case with melanoma. When this happens your doctor will talk to you about several possibilities including chemotherapy, sentinel node biopsy and radiation therapy.7
- Chemotherapy – In the systemic version, drugs are taken orally or injected into a muscle or vein. The chemicals flow through the bloodstream, spreading throughout the body.
- Sentinel Node Biopsy or sentinel lymph node biopsy – The intent of this surgery is to remove and examine the lymph node for any indications of cancer. The findings will then dictate what further measures your doctor and you will need to take.
- Radiation – This is used when surgery is not an alternative. It is utilized in a variety of cases where skin cancer is advanced. It is not generally relied upon with melanoma. Radiation proves ineffective except as a palliative measure.
Treatment for skin cancer is continuing to evolve. Research is looking at ways traditional and alternative methods can work together in a complementary and effective fashion. While it is your doctor’s responsibility to steer you in the right direction, it is yours to talk to the professionals and research to understand what is best for you.
References
1 American Cancer Society. (2011). Skin Cancer. Retrieved from www.cancer.org/Cancer/SkinCancer-Melanoma/OverviewGuide/melanoma-skin-cancer-overview
2 A. P. John Cancer Institute. (2011). Skin Cancer. Retrieved from www.apjohncancerinstitute.org/cancer/skin.htm
3 A. P. John Cancer Institute. (2011). Skin Cancer. Retrieved from www.apjohncancerinstitute.org/cancer/skin.htm
4 American Cancer Society. (2011). Skin Cancer. Retrieved from www.cancer.org/Cancer/SkinCancer-Melanoma/OverviewGuide/melanoma-skin-cancer-overview-treating-c-a-m
5 Mayo Clinic. (2011). Skin Cancer: Treatment and Drugs. Retrieved from www.mayoclinic.com/health/skin-cancer/DS00190/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs
6 American Cancer Society. (2011). Skin Cancer. Retrieved from www.cancer.org/Cancer/SkinCancer-Melanoma/OverviewGuide/melanoma-skin-cancer-overview-treating-c-a-m
7 National Cancer Institute. (2011). Treatment of Skin Cancer. Retrieved from www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/skin/
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