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bbaechle
USA
3 Posts |
 Posted - 05/03/2011 : 02:58:58
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Hello,
I'm new to this forum and sought it out after talking to two plastic surgeons about the basal cell skin cancer on about one/third of my lower right eyelid. They both told me that surgically removing it will leave a permanent scar, could require tear duct restoration surgery, could require cutting part of my upper eyelid (or ear!) to patch up the eyelid below. One doctor said "it will look OK," but I'll my eye will never quite look the same again. I am a recently divorced woman with beautiful blue eyes,not willing to accept this diagnosis.
I've been reading some of these forum posts but would so appreciate anyone's help in directing me to alternative treatments safe for the sensitive eye area.
Thank you in advance,
Bea
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thanks01
USA
170 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2011 : 10:34:45
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A lot of people in this forum are interested in topical remedies, creams, etc. applied to the skin. Please just BE AWARE that getting various topicals into the eyes is one of the most warned-against situations. These substances can be very damaging to the eyes, and users on the forum have discovered that APPLYING SUBSTANCES CLOSE TO, NEAR THE EYES, can often result in the substance leaking into the eyes themselves.
I feel very sorry for your problem, will say prayers, and hope that you receive good and effective treatment. |
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bbaechle
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2011 : 20:46:29
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Thanks for the warning!! If anyone knows of a natural cure that won't hurt my eye, I would greatly appreciate it.
bea
quote:
Originally posted by thanks01
A lot of people in this forum are interested in topical remedies, creams, etc. applied to the skin. Please just BE AWARE that getting various topicals into the eyes is one of the most warned-against situations. These substances can be very damaging to the eyes, and users on the forum have discovered that APPLYING SUBSTANCES CLOSE TO, NEAR THE EYES, can often result in the substance leaking into the eyes themselves.
I feel very sorry for your problem, will say prayers, and hope that you receive good and effective treatment.
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dan
526 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2011 : 22:21:19
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I'm not sure how safe really anything will be so close to the eye. I would avoid petty spurge, anything with ammonia (Cymilium), and orange oil. Remedies that I would consider trying are vitamin E with selenium mixed with Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) http://www.topicalinfo.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=891 and agrimony http://www.topicalinfo.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=888 but these have very limited user reports.
I think Curaderm BEC5 and Sunspot ES are possibilities. I was just surprised by what I found at www.amazon.com , searching for curaderm in all departments. On the first result page was Curaderm, Sunspot, Raspex raspberry skin gel, iodine, micropore tape, and books on skin cancer, hydrogen peroxide, and eggplant. There are lots of reviews for Curaderm, mostly good.
Lots of things to consider, be sure to check out any warnings regarding keeping your eyes safe. I wish you well! |
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OneLove
5 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2011 : 00:37:54
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I hope you will return here and let us know what you are doing for your BCC. I have the same situation, almost EXACTLY! I have looked at the pics of reconstruction surgery and am none too keen on this. Each of the 2 derms, 1 ophthalmologist, and general practitioner I have seen have all said that this is slow growing and won't threaten life or other organs. However, it is starting to spread slowly across my lower eyelid, just at the eyelash margin, not below.
Since I can't get in for a mohs surgery (and still don't know if I WANT to) for several weeks yet, I thought I would research and try some topical routes.
I just started using Liph topical spray, a modified silicate solution with aloe vera and glycerin that has a pH level of 13.7. I use a q-tip and pull the lid away from the eye and hold it there until the solution is dry. I then use another q-tip dipped into an olive oil and fresh-crushed garlic solution and hold that onto the lesion. It burns, but not unbearably. I've done this two days now and my whole lower lid is very puffy, even though i've only used the solution on this tiny spot. I am hoping this is some sort of auto-immune response that is positive. The lesion itself is now looking red (pearly white before) and pitted. So far, no negative effect on my vision in that eye. I tried HARD to talk the derma into prescribing me imiquimod (Aldara), but he wouldn't because of the proximity to the eye. He also said it is only approved for superficial BCC, even though I had academic research papers showing it is now being used for nodular BCC.
I may switch to soaking in Epsom salts and following with iodine tomorrow. My father is from the deeeeep south and his "people" cured nearly everything by painting it with iodine when he was a kid. I've read about the iodine treatment and only have to research safety near the eye before using it.
Best wishes to you. Please let us know how you are doing. If you do have the surgery, I would really really appreciate hearing about your experience. If my topicals are not successful, I may very well have to have the surgery also. |
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dan
526 Posts |
Posted - 05/19/2011 : 21:59:27
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Hi Onelove, thanks for your post. It seems like you are being very careful, but contact with a high pH liquid could be disaster for your eye. I don't know if that would stop me either, but at the minimum be super careful and have an emergency eyewash plan with running water in advance.
The Liph product line is new to me. From their website http://www.liphproducts.com/about
LIPH is a modified value added silicon based compound. (It is also known as alka hydroxy, alka vita, and alka V6. Do not confuse this with alpha hydroxy which is an acid.) Silica is an "Essential Trace Mineral" known for bone and joint health, naturally produced within the body, and believed to diminish as we age. LIPH toxicity tests and skin corrosion tests confirm that it is completely safe. LIPH is also water soluble and easily absorbed. LIPH increases the production of the body's own primary and most powerful antioxidants... Glutathione, Catalise and Superoxide Dismutase! LIPH is very high in alkalinity (pH +/-13.7), which helps balance the body's natural pH level and helps prevent acidic conditions.
They also have an interesting cancer page http://www.liphproducts.com/research-cancer and a melanoma page with a research paper that does not show up on pubmed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=alka%20vita , so beware.
I think alkalinity, especially topically, can kill cancer, but 13.7 is getting up there in pH to where normal cells can be damaged. I would hope the topical spray is much more diluted than their other products but I did not see a pH for it. I like the iodine idea.
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OneLove
5 Posts |
Posted - 05/20/2011 : 13:46:48
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| Hi Dan, and thanks for your welcome. I am learning much using myself as a science lab, haha, but given that alternatives, not much choice. I feel extraordinary gratitude for those like yourself who have 'gone before' are generous enough to spend the time to post info and encouragement for those of us who are just beginning to go 'off grid', as my environmental activist son would say. I did check the LIPH spray with my pH tape and it registers off the top of the chart, which ends at 8.0. So it must be super alkaline. I was surprised when they sprayed the back of my hand in the store and it didn't feel any different than any other light aloe solution. Back home and on my BBC lesion it was a TOTALLY different story. Wow. How far I've come in only 2 days. The LIPH stung alot, but I used a q-tip, and always leaning forward facing down so liquid would not flow up into the eye, held the q-tip on and soaked it for awhile. Repeated it about every hour for maybe 4-5 times. The huge change when I followed with an enzyme liquid for cleaning contact lenses, done the same way with a q-tip (yes, I did irrigate eye several times with saline, followed with lubricating protective drops just in case and ALWAYS held lid away from eye and facing down). After the enzyme and rinsing that off with saline, I used hydrogen peroxide. The HP didn't fizz like I expected it to. I checked the pH of HP and found it to be very low/acid. I added a bit of baking soda to the HP and tried again. WOW. It fizzed like crazy and went quite deep. I painted everything with iodine (Lugol's solution) and walked around the house holding my lid away from the eye to simulate a gentle fan. It did hurt and took some deep breathing. I also have been drinking BS in water, along with some salt/potassium and a wee bit of Epsom salt for the magnesium. I test the water to be sure it is alkaline, but not too much. I was shocked to learn from testiing that our 'healthy' (ha) reverse osmosis water is low pH/acid. I've also started taking enzymes on an empty stomach last thing at night and first thing in the morning. This morning my eye is swollen so much it would frighten anyone I know if they saw it. The 'bad' tissue is clearly eroded with this treatment, but I have absolute faith it will heal, as many of you have already experienced. My dear hubbie is soooo supportive, as he knows the alternative if this is not successful, and he knows I was diagnosed with Lymphatic Sarcoidosis at the age of 26 and told I would die within a year, no treatment available but steroids and pain amelioration and I HEALED MYSELF with naturopathic treatments and lifestyle changes. I am now 56 and other than this soon-to-be-history BCC on my lower eyelid, I am pretty healthy. After much research and thought, I believe my many hours at a high-glare/high EMF computer has more to do with this BCC than outdoor sunlight. I will try to limit my time online until I find a low glare/low EMF computer. Anyone know anything about this? - - Blessings to all of you who are workiing at healing, and thanks again Dan for the welcome. |
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healthyskin
1 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2011 : 19:15:12
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quote:
Originally posted by bbaechle
Hello,
I'm new to this forum and sought it out after talking to two plastic surgeons about the basal cell skin cancer on about one/third of my lower right eyelid. They both told me that surgically removing it will leave a permanent scar, could require tear duct restoration surgery, could require cutting part of my upper eyelid (or ear!) to patch up the eyelid below. One doctor said "it will look OK," but I'll my eye will never quite look the same again. I am a recently divorced woman with beautiful blue eyes,not willing to accept this diagnosis.
I've been reading some of these forum posts but would so appreciate anyone's help in directing me to alternative treatments safe for the sensitive eye area.
Thank you in advance,
Bea
Hi Bea,
I agree with what some have said regarding the dangers of putting some natural treatments (or drugs) in, on or near the eye. You may find the following link with photos of interest. This site does not sell the product mentioned but you can probably find it out there some where. Hope you get a full healing!!
http://www.blacksalveinfo.com/photos.htm |
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OneLove
5 Posts |
Posted - 06/09/2011 : 21:06:17
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After researching, I elected NOT to use blacksalve/bloodroot on my BCC because it was in the lash margin of an eyelid. I might have chosen that if it were on an arm, leg, or torso. I was very very careful in my treatments, leaning forward, looking down into a mirror, and holding my lid well away from my eye. It was the pulling and stretching that caused the swelling and bruising, and frankly, that lower lid is still stretched out fro
doing this 5-8 times a day. The GOOD news is that I saw a MOHs surgeon/dermatologist AND an oculoplastic surgeon several weeks ago who both pronounced the BCC GONE, nothing left to even biopsy. I was pretty happy. That lasted all of one week before it started coming back. I have adjusted to the need to have it removed surgically. One opthalmic surgeon told me of a patient who bad 4 recurrences because the previous surgeon did not get clear margins. I am fortunate so far in that mine is small and no lash loss yet. Given the difficult location of your bcc, I would find the best surgeon and get it done and move on. If is amazing what really gifted surgeon can do these days, and these only get worse over time, generally speaking. If you are not happy with the result after several months, you can have a plastic surgeon do some revision. My friend who is an opthalmologist gave me a tip: have ONE surgeon do both the MOHs and the wound closing. I was all set up to have a dermatologist do the MOHs and then oculoplastic surgeon do the closure/reconstruction. My friend says I will get a better end result with the same surgeon doing both. I know this is a VERY hard pill to swallow, but try to keep in mind that your issue will only get larger/worse the longer you day. Just be sure to keep looking 'til you find the right person. I saw a total of 7 docs before I felt comfortable with one. Now, having said all that, if I lived where it was a viable option, I MIGHT consider the combination of thermal therapy and very low dose radiation instead. There are 2 clinics I know of that do that and they are both in California, but there are bound to be more out there. Good luck to you. Let us know how things go. |
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paul
Canada
11 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2011 : 16:43:15
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quote:
Originally posted by bbaechle
Hello,
I'm new to this forum and sought it out after talking to two plastic surgeons about the basal cell skin cancer on about one/third of my lower right eyelid. They both told me that surgically removing it will leave a permanent scar, could require tear duct restoration surgery, could require cutting part of my upper eyelid (or ear!) to patch up the eyelid below. One doctor said "it will look OK," but I'll my eye will never quite look the same again. I am a recently divorced woman with beautiful blue eyes,not willing to accept this diagnosis.
I've been reading some of these forum posts but would so appreciate anyone's help in directing me to alternative treatments safe for the sensitive eye area.
Thank you in advance,
Bea
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paul
Canada
11 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2011 : 16:46:45
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quote:
Originally posted by bbaechle
Hello,
I'm new to this forum and sought it out after talking to two plastic surgeons about the basal cell skin cancer on about one/third of my lower right eyelid. They both told me that surgically removing it will leave a permanent scar, could require tear duct restoration surgery, could require cutting part of my upper eyelid (or ear!) to patch up the eyelid below. One doctor said "it will look OK," but I'll my eye will never quite look the same again. I am a recently divorced woman with beautiful blue eyes,not willing to accept this diagnosis.
I've been reading some of these forum posts but would so appreciate anyone's help in directing me to alternative treatments safe for the sensitive eye area.
Thank you in advance,
Bea
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Thomas Haugen
USA
80 Posts |
Posted - 10/03/2011 : 03:38:34
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I too have a BCC on my lower lid, although mine is near the bottom of the lid almost on the cheek. What concerned me was that the white of my eye got red near the BCC. At that time I read about someone who had lost an eye to skin cancer and I got scared. Here is what I wrote in another post:
Melanoma survivor more than 20 years. In addition to sunburn prevention I have found astaxanthin to help kill several of my skin cancers. I started having one eyeball get red on the inside corner, so after some research I started taking astaxanthin and my eye redness went away. After reading a little more I also started taking zeaxanthin to make sure my eye problem completely cleared up (pun intended.) And I started eating more fresh raw vegetables to get their nutrients.
While reading about Astaxanthin, I realized it might also work on my skin cancers and boy did it ever. I had a half dozen spots on my face that my dermatologist said were actinic keratoses and had been frozen with liquid nitrogen repeatedly but came back. I think several of them were degenerating into basal cell carcinomas, because a couple weeks after I started taking the Astaxanthin several of these spots became red inflamed swollen patches. I read that this happens when cancer cells die off. After a couple of months taking Astaxanthin the scaly skin disappeared and all these spots became normal skin again. All except a couple of BCCs on my nose that I've fought for nearly 20 years. I expect to try topicals on them soon.
I'm almost certain it was the Astaxanthin stimulating my immune system to kill the cancer cells because when I stopped taking it the inflamed spots went away and when I started taking it again the inflammation came back. I take it every day now and no more inflamed spots, just healthy skin. The pills cost less than 15 cents a day at Swanson Vitamins. Ditto for zeaxanthin.
Horrific photo of swelling starting as of July 18th http://www.flickr.com/photos/16947624@N00/6206080491/in/photostream
Even more horrific as of August 3rd http://www.flickr.com/photos/16947624@N00/6206596228/in/photostream
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Basal Cell Skin Cancer on Lower Eyelid
