Before I tell my story of how I believe a very simple, extremely cost effective, and totally natural treatment got rid of a basal cell carcinoma skin cancer, I want to clarify that I am not a medical professional, but rather simply a "lay person" who experimented with this method.

Now that I've gotten that out of the way, I'm going to tell you the story of my experience with a topical vitamin C solution and how it got rid of my basal cell carcinoma lesion within a matter of days.

You see, I have a history of getting basal cell carcinoma skin cancers, which are not a serious form of skin cancer, are extremely slow to metastasize (spread), and rarely turn into a more serious form of invasive skin cancer. Hence, their name, they stay on the surface of the skin for the most part, and therefore could potentially go for years without spreading. However, it is still important to identify and remove them since there still could be a chance of further mutation.

The areas I had these skin cancers were on my forehead, right where my skin met my hair line, and also a spot on my chest, right between my breasts. The reason I had gone in to get them checked out by a professional was because they seemed to be wounds that would not heal. At first I thought the one on my forehead was actually a burn from a curling iron, but when I noticed it has a smooth, shiny surface, and kept crusting over and would never heal, I became suspicious.

A doctor referred me to a dermatologist, who removed both spots that would never heal and sent them away for lab testing. They were confirmed as basal cell carcinoma skin cancers, and I was scheduled from then on to have twice-annual checkups for these suspicious skin lesions, especially since I have a family history of skin cancer.

Because of this experience, I started to do self checks as well, especially looking for spots on my face and forehead, since those are areas that get the most sun exposure by default because they are always the first to face the sunlight. I had notice just about two months ago that another spot, which I initially thought was a blemish, had shown up virtually right over where my white scar was on my forehead from the last basal removal.

I also noticed that this one was smooth and shiny, and pink, and never healed after weeks of existence. So, I started reading online for how to get rid of basal cell carcinomas naturally, with a topical Vitamin C treatment, since I had remembered reading about this months ago when surfing the internet reading unrelated alternative medicine news.

Lo and behold, I found that many people reported getting rid of these minor skin cancers by simply applying a concentrated Vitamin C solution, the ascorbic acid form, directly to the "tumor" two to three times a day for anywhere from a few days to two weeks. They reported several successes, with the tumor falling off within days or weeks.

I figured, what did I have to lose, and because I really didn't want another scar on my body, especially on my face, and knew that if I went back to the doctor they would surgically remove it again and put stitches in it, not to mention it would cost me quite a bit in medical fees even with insurance, I made the personal decision to forgo that and try to get rid of this naturally, on my own. I went to a natural foods store and purchased a quarter pound of ascorbic acid powder, which cost me not even three dollars. It is a fine white powder that contains about 5,000 mg. or vitamin C per teaspoon, so it's quite concentrated.

I mixed a tiny bit of solution at a time, putting as much of the powder in a solution of water as I could with it still staying a solution instead of a paste, as instructed by the sources I researched. I would then swab it onto the wound with a q-tip several times a day. I noticed that when I applied it, it stung really bad, but only on the wound site and not on the surrounding skin, so I researched this and was comforted to know that it only kills the cancerous cells, not the healthy skin cells, so this explained why it left the healthy surrounding skin unaffected.

Supposedly, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), is selectively toxic to cancer cells, at least basal cell carcinoma cells as far as I know. This stinging and burning went on for the next several days, and the wound turned a bright red for about two days before it finally crusted over, and fell right off.

While I never got this examined to see if it was indeed a basal cell skin cancer, I am personally convinced that it was, and that Vitamin C was natural "cure" for it, and worked.

While I couldn't recommend this over medical advice, I can say that I personally believe it worked for me, and I took the personal chance of not going to the doctor's to get it diagnosed or tested before "self treating". My previous experience made me comfortable enough to take this route, however, that may not be the case with everyone, and medical advice should be probably be seeked out prior to taking on a treatment yourself.




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Danna_Schneider

We've all experienced the pain and damage of a sun burn. It doesn't matter how many times the media explains the risks and the need for UV coverage, a substantial number of people turn a deaf ear and head out into the hot afternoon sun. The result is seriously sun damaged skin and in severe cases even skin cancer. That bronze glow that tanning achieves is short lived. After several years of that kind of abuse the skin becomes leathery and can break out in brown spots. When the sun has virtually sucked your skin dry, no amounts of moisturizer in the world will be able to reverse the effect.

There are many different options available both through prescription and drugstore purchase. These are typically creams and lotions that claim to thicken the skin to rejuvenate a youthful glow. Studies have proven some of these products to work relatively well over time. It's a low cost alternative to some therapies but will probably work better on those with minor sun damage as opposed to those with extreme cases. Some may opt for other alternatives such as chemical peels which has been known to have both positive and negative outcomes for patients. Now that laser is an option more sun loving folks have yet another method for fighting the harsh effects of the sun's rays.

The use of a laser on sun damaged skin is a nice option because it causes less damage during and after the process than some methods. Less damage means much faster healing and in this chaotic world of work and bills, nobody has time to wait around to recover. Over the years since the use of lasers has grown and advanced, different types of lasers have come into play. If this is of importance to you then don't hesitate to ask for an explanation from your practitioner or dermatologist. They can explain the differences between each one and how they work.

The treatments are not cheap and will run hundreds, potentially thousands of dollars depending on how damaged the skin is and how much of it needs to be attended to. Very minor cases of sun damage may need as little as one fifteen minute treatment. That isn't likely for most patients though. Regular tanning or working outdoors can really add up over the years. Unfortunately in many cases insurance companies will not cover laser surgery because it is considered cosmetic. Before you assume though take a moment to consult with your insurance broker and see if you have any options.

There are many benefits to using laser therapy to treat damage caused by the harsh sun. Minimal recovery time allows you to keep working and going about your daily life. It's wise to speak with your dermatologist about skin health and the preventative measures that can be taken to avoid sun damage. It's never too late to start taking better care of your precious skin. Get informed and always be aware of the options available to you in regards to all forms of skin treatments.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Jacobs

How to know what to expect when you're diagnosed with skin cancer: Explanation of the Moh's Procedure

If you've been diagnosed with skin cancer, don't panic. Here is an article about what to expect after the diagnosis. It is clear, and honest.

Follow the doctor's instructions to the letter. He really knows what's best for you under these circumstances, and there are reasons for every instruction you receive. The instructions given are meant to prepare you for the procedure and to help you heal faster when it's over.

The Moh's procedure was developed by Dr. Frederick Mohs. This is the technique that is most commonly used skin cancer removal procedure used worldwide.

You register at the outpatient facility on the day of the surgery. You will need to bring a friend or family member to help you.

You will be taken to a room with a dentist's style chair. The chair lays back and rises up at the doctor's control.

Once you are comfortable, the doctor uses the tiniest needle to numb the affected area. He uses a local anesthesia.

Once numb, he cuts a very small sliver of skin from the affected area. He sends you back to the waiting room and sends the sample to pathology.

If pathology finds cancerous cells on the cut line, you go back to the chair, get the local anesthesia again, and he repeats the procedure.

This continues until pathology can find no cancerous cells on the cut line.

Once no bad cells are found, you are able to go home.

In the first 48 hours after surgery, you will already need to have peas and rice; yes, I said peas and rice. Let me explain;

Frozen peas in a small zip lock baggie are the perfect size to use on the incision site. They are flexible enough to be comfortable, and can the thrown back into the freezer as many times as necessary, and re-used. You will need to use ice packs for the first 48 hours, about 30 minutes out of each hour to reduce swelling.

Rice: Pour some rice into a couple of clean socks. About 1 and a half cups of rice is plenty. Tie the sock shut near the top of the rice. After the first 48 hours, you will need to change from ice packs to hot compresses. Microwave the rice filled socks about 30 seconds at a time, kneading them in between, until they are warm/hot throughout.

• Always talk to your doctor about your medical advice.
• Swelling and bruising can last up to weeks.
• Nothing you find on here is to replace your doctor's advice.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Spradlin