How to Fight Skin Cancer with Green Tea, etc

Skin cancer diagnoses are climbing at an alarming rate of 1 million new cases per year. Five years ago I was one of that number, and have valuable research to point you to, plus my own story of encouragement.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
   Can't see the Zinc Oxide Sunblock on this munchkin can you? :)

   Use one of the new Sunblocks (Not just a sun 'screen') that have an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) rating over 40. The new Zinc Oxide formulations are 45 SPF and don't worry- you won't look like the life guards of the 70's with a big white stipe on your nose! The new products dissolve into a completely clear block you can not see after rubbing it in slightly. They are widely available and quite reasonably priced.

2. 
   You'll need a little more 'cover-up' than this in direct sun :)

   Cover up! This seems obvious, but realize also that there are new fabrics in hats and clothing that have an excellent UPF built in. (UPF is 'Ultraviolet Protection Factor' and covers both UVA and UVB rays) A rating of '50 UPF' offers 98% protection. (Compare this to a regular T-shirt with a rating of only an '8'!)

3. 
   Enjoy the cool of the day~

   Avoid the sun if at all possible from 10 a.m.- 4 pm. Being on or near the water is especially risky as you are getting those reflected rays also, so cover up and learn to enjoy the out of doors when the sun is not blazing

4. Yep, you know it- NEVER use a tanning booth! New recommendations rate these as dangerous as smoking and asbestos exposure. If you just HAVE to have some color, the new 'self-tanning' lotions are quite decent- not like the old ones that left orange streak marks :) Plus, some even come w/ some built-in sunscreen.

5. Make Tea Time, everyday! Green tea that is. There is scientific evidence on this: (from the National Institute of Health, linked below):" A new study funded by NIEHS and the National Cancer Institute finds that drinking green tea can reverse the effects of sun damage to the skin and prevent skin cancer."
   
   Plus, I have personal experience that makes me a believer: My Doctor biopsied a growth on the top of my nose that kept growing and the diagnosis was: squamous cell skin cancer. (More serious than basal cell, this type can more easily spread to the lymph nodes.) The sample also unfortunately noted that the bad cells were not all contained in the biopsy- so I still had the cancer. Somewhere I'd heard about green tea to fight skin cancer, so I started drinking some each day, and applying it topically by rubbing a moist tea bag on the spot about 3 times a day. I also found an ointment at our food coop that contained green tea. Now here's the cool part: by the time I got into the Dermatologist to get the rest of the skin cancer removed- it was GONE! Yep, no squamous cells left! I can only guess the Green Tea had finished it off :)

6. Not a Tea Drinker? Look for "Green Tea Mints" from SENCHA ~ they are quite tasty too :) I use them routinely now for 'maintenance':)

Tips & Warnings

• I know that any skin cancer can be scary, and it can occur MANY years after exposure, mine was 25 years after numerous burns as a teen. (Hats just weren't cool to wear~ Oh, for dumb! :) But it's been 5 years with no recurrence for me, using the tips above. So be smart and enjoy life!
• Don't put away your sunblock with your beach towel in the fall~ use it daily, especially when you'll be in the snow, which is a major reflector.
• Be sure and get to your health care provider ASAP if you have a suspicious growth. If you can't get into a Dermatologist for a while, (very common) perhaps another Dr. can take a biopsy sooner to either allay your fears, or get you treatment quicker. (This worked for me:)
• NEVER get another burn! (Infants,small children, and elders are especially prone to sunburns~ More than a few minutes without sun protection is very risky. According to skincancer.org (below): "One blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person's chances of developing melanoma later in life." Let's get smart about enjoying the outdoors- we don't want ANY skin cancer, especially melanoma, which is much more dangerous than basal or squamous cell types.

Resources

• What does skin cancer look like?
• More useful info on skin cancer/burns
• Green Tea/Skin Cancer Treatment (.gov resource)

[jeanef]

on 10/3/2009 I used "derma E- Alpha Lipoic/Green Tea" Advanced Repair Creme.
Best of Outcomes to you!

[naturalmomto3]

on 10/3/2009 Hi, can you please tell me the name of the ointment you used?
Congrats on being cancer free! I hope to have the same results. =)
Thank you!!

[igislandgirl]

on 8/18/2009 Living in Fl alwasy trying to learn more ways to fight skin cancer.Thanks for the information.