Tuesday, December 08, 2009 Matt asks

Q: Alternaive treatment to Basal cell cancer on nose

Hello. My wife has had a basal cell cancer removed from under her eye (the text book example) with Mohs Surgery. It healed great do to the location. She also had a 15mm patch of cancer removed from her hip. As her husband I watched them stitch and saw how much skin was removed. She now has a mark on her nose that disappeared now reappeared. 99% chance we think it is cancer. Since it's on her nose we are trying to avoid cutting because we don't have the money for reconstructive plastic surgery. Is there alternative treatments other than cutting? If so, what are the pros and cons? I have also read briefly about a Perrin's blend cream. I don't believe it but Would trying anything like that aggravate or worsen the cancer? Seems like the more you attack it the more angry it gets. I have also read about getting your body alkaline? Any info on any of these questions will be greatly appreciated. We are pretty much pay check to pay check with a chance of losing health benefits left with only a health discount plan and need to act quick. Thank you for your time. I wish everybody well. Matt mattaz@optonline.net

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Answers (2)

Merely Me, Health Guide

12/ 8/09 8:38pm

Hi Matt

First of all let me say how sorry I am that you and your wife have been through so much with her skin cancer. This is probably a frightening and frustrating time for you.

Now...has a doctor said officially that this is cancer you are seeing on her nose?

Please know that I am not a doctor and that these questions really do need to be directed to your wife's doctor. I will give you what information we have about treatment and I will research about ways maybe you can get some affordable treatment. I would not mess around with any unproven methods as time is wasting and if this is cancer it will need to be treated by a doctor.

Our Doctor Kevin Berman talks about these different ways to treat skin cancer:

"Excision with 4 mm margin results in 95% cure rate and the excised tumor is sent to a pathologist to ascertain that the margins are clear and tumor has been completely removed. Mohs micrographic surgery is reserved for tumors on the face or very large or recurrent tumors. However, many tumors do not penetrate very deeply into the skin and can be treated with a destructive modality known as "curettage and electrodessication." In this method, the tumor is curetted with a very sharp instrument and then "burned" with electricity. No stitches are placed and no specimen is sent for pathology. This also has approximately a 90% cure rate when appropriately used for tumors that do not penetrate deeply.

More recently, topical creams have been used to treat superficial forms of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. 5-fluorouracil and imiquimod are two creams which have been shown to effectively clear superficial skin cancer when used daily for several months. While the cure rate is not as high as surgical excision, this remains a viable option for a patient who is not a good surgical candidate. Radiation is not commonly used but can be an effective treatment."

Also you might want to read this page for more information about skin cancer treatments.

This American Academy of Dermatology web site gives information about free skin cancer screenings.

Also here is a link to a free clinic finder for your area.

See what these resources have to offer and I truly wish you the best. Please do get your wife to a doctor somehow...better safe than sorry.

Thank you for your question.