Dear Gary,

As a holistically minded dermatologist with a daily yoga practice and a strong interest in alternative medicine, I can empathize with anyone who'd like to explore natural treatments for skin problems. However, I am not aware of any herbal remedies for basal cell carcinoma (aka basal cell cancer) whose effectiveness and safety have been proven. I strongly advise you to consult a board certified dermatologist to discuss your treatment options.  These range from surgery to cryotherapy (freezing with liquid nitrogen), electrodesiccation (heat treatment) and curettage (scraping out of the cancer). At-home treatment with prescription Aldara cream, whose active ingredient (imiquimod) stimulates your skin's immune system to destroy the cancer, may also be an option for superficial basal cell carcinoma. The best treatment is determined by your dermatologisy, based on the type and stage of the basal cell carcinoma and its location. Your preferences can certainly be taken into account when there is more than one treatment option. Basal cell carcinoma is mild in comparison to melanoma, but please be aware that it can still cause significant problems if it is not treated, or if it is inadequately treated. It can continue to grow beneath the skin surface, even penetrating bone if it gets deep enough. It tends to be slow-growing, but it can ultimately spread to the lymph glands and even to other parts of the body. Although basal cell carcinoma is less deadly than melanoma, deaths have been reported in patients who did not receive adequate, timely treatment for basal cell carcinoma.

With best regards,

Dr. Hema