Beating Skin Cancer One More Time

Intro – Beating Skin Cancer One More Time

It is the 5th time in 8 years that I develop Basal cell carcinoma and always somewhere on my forehead. This time a large area was affected from the forehead all the way down the left hand side of my face. In the genes? There is no history of skin cancer in the family. I guess it is my fair skin combined with a ‘lifestyle’ issue viz. getting a great deal of sun exposure without adequate protection.

The Treatment I followed and how it Works

Dr. Brian Sher, Dermatologist prescribed ‘Aldara’ or a generic ‘Glentriz’. One has to apply a small amount of this ointment to the affected area every night and wash with water and soap in the morning. A scab(s) will appear. Aldara/ Glentriz attract white cells to the area and in the process the white cells kill the cancerous cells. The “uglier” the scabs look the more effective the treatment is. By week 4 to 6 the scabs start peeling off leaving behind healthy skin.

Going Forward will I change anything?

Going forward I will be wearing a wide-brimmed hat (not just a cap) and I will use a sun screen with SPF 50 whenever in the sun.

Is Basal Cell Carcinoma Life Threatening

Basal Cell Carcinoma is generally not considered deadly as it very rarely spreads to other parts of the body and is highly treatable when caught early; however, if left untreated, it can grow deeply into the skin and cause significant damage to surrounding tissues, potentially becoming life-threatening in extremely rare cases. 

Does Skin Cancer affect only one Race Group

Skin cancer can affect people of all races and ethnicities. Fair-skinned people who spend a great deal of time in the sun have the greatest risk of skin cancer.

Causes of Skin Cancer

Most cases of skin cancer are caused by overexposure to UV rays from the sun, tanning beds, or sunlamps. UV rays can damage skin cells. In the short term, this damage can cause a sunburn. Over time, UV damage adds up, leading to changes in skin texture, premature skin aging and sometimes skin cancer.

Can you get Sunburn on a Cloudy Day?

Even on cloudy days, the sun still emits UV light, which penetrates clouds and can result in sunburn. Over 90% of UV rays can pass through a light cloud cover and cause sunburn.

Further Reading – Beating Skin Cancer One More Time

Aldara >

WebMD‘s article What Causes Skin Cancer? >