I really wanted the apple cider vinegar to work on my basal cell carcinoma.
For four weeks, I applied Bragg's organic ACV five times a day to both the BCC on the left of my face and the Actinosis Keratosis (AK) on my hand. After that time, I have been applying hydrogen peroxide to the two sites for a week. Both areas crusted and peeled away after 2-3 weeks of application. The hand AK left a smooth, non-sandpaper texture, with just a pink mark, which I cover with a band-aid when I am out in the sun. I am convinced that the AK is healed, with little potential for development into a more serious cancerous spot.
With the pain on my chest from the first excision of the BCC, I returned to my dermatologist's office last week. She reported that it was hypertrophic (excess amounts of collagen to wound site) and had keloid growth (raised portions of the cut area), and it may take more time to heal. She prescribed Kelo-cote to apply to the site, twice daily.
The doctor, who I admired, also recommended that I have the BCC on my face removed as soon as possible. I was very sad, and asked a doctor friend to look at it. I had my appointment today. He confirmed that the spot needed removal, and we set a date for July 21 to take it away.
We want to say we are in control, and through diet and exercise, and sunscreen and other positive health methods we can say that we are in control of our bodies. Other factors, such as negative choices made in our youth, will take away that control, however. All those days on the sun deck in college with baby oil, those beach walks and sunbathing at a home pool or visiting another without sunscreen were poor decisions.
My advice to anyone who does not want to endure suffering because of a little bcc is to wear the sunscreen, the hat, the visor and stay under cover when possible. While a suntan may make us look and feel skinnier and younger, the pain of surgery and recovery, as well as a scar one has to endure afterwards is just not worth it.
