Skin Cancers - Inside Health Clinic

Did you know?

• 1 in 5 North Americans will have skin cancer, 97% being non-melanoma cancers with a high cure rate.
• Both UV-A and UV-B rays have similar hazards contributing to skin cancer.
• Sunscreen use hasn’t prevented much skin cancer, but has caused widespread vitamin D deficiency.

Common Signs & Symptoms

• Basal cell carcinoma lesion: rolled indurated pearly edge with a depressed central area of necrosis (dead cells/tissue), sometimes nodular and spherical
• Squamous cell carcinoma lesion: a surface scale or crust, a sore, an inflamed spot that doesn’t heal
• Malignant melanoma lesion: brown-black pigment, asymptomatic, irregular borders, mixed pigmentation, possible finger-like projections, diameter > 6mm, changing (size, shape, color, bleeding, itching, tenderness)

Common Naturopathic Treatment Would Focus On

• Repairing UV damage (skin degeneration and sun damage)
• Vitamin and mineral supplementation
• Dietary changes to a plant-based diet

Avoid

• High fat diet, especially processed polyunsaturated fats such as corn oil
• DNA damage from ultraviolet rays