This is why we don't allow medical threads

[[FnG]magnolia]

This is a thread about why medical threads can be bad. It is not requesting or endorsing medical advice for the users of this forum and I am not trying to circumvent any forum rules.

Skin cancer can be a pretty terrible thing. Improvements in personal education and in science have made inroads into alleviating or removing some types of skin cancer from some sufferers. Let's get into specifics before we get into horrifics.

Basal cell carcinomas most frequently occur on the face, ears, back of the hands, arms and shoulders. They occur equally in both men and women and most commonly affect people over the age of 40 years. BCCs are typically slow growing (months or years).

Characteristic features of BCCs may include:

A few millimetres to several centimetres in diameter
Waxy small raised lesions (papules) with a depressed centre
Pearl-like and transluscent in appearance
Ulcer-like in appearance
Tendency to bleed
Oozing or crusted areas
Raised borders
Black-blue or brown areas.

If a change or abnormality (lesion) develops on the skin it is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible in order for a diagnosis to be made. The doctor will look closely at the lesion, assessing its size, location and characteristics and will ask about the history of the lesion eg: how long it has been there, whether it bleeds or itches etc.

If the doctor suspects that the abnormal lesion may be cancerous, they may take a small sample of the tissue (a biopsy). The sample of tissue is sent to a laboratory where examination under a microscope can reveal whether the tissue cells are cancerous. If they are then the doctor will recommend appropriate treatment.

(*Southern Cross provide insurance cover for medical and health support across Australasia, I use this for reference only)

Common treatments include excision, freezing, and radiotherapy although there are others, like topical medications:

A topical cream that stimulates the immune system is sometimes used in the treatment of superficial BCCs. It works by stimulating the immune system to release chemicals that help to destroy the cancer cells. The most commonly used topical medications are imiquimod cream (Aldara) and fluorouracil cream (Efudix). They are mainly effective against small superficial BCCs.

And this is where things got messy.

Very, very, VERY messy indeed

To paraphrase from another forum:

"You have a basal cell carcinoma on the tip of your nose. We could excise this in a 5-minute procedure."

"You can't oppress me with your Western medical witchcraft, I'm going to smear caustic zinc chloride on my nose."

(Nose falls off)

"Well, now you need nasal reconstructive surgery."

"Will my insurance cover it?"

"Sure, if we perform the excision we told you about in the first place."

"...okay, let's do that." (Drinks alt-med "anti-cancer" fluid)

For context if you haven't dived into the link already, our OP doesn't trust normal medicine and instead believes in the power of black salve. Hey, why don't we wiki black salve, guys!

Cansema (also known as black salve) is a brand name of a popular alternative cancer treatment. The product is commonly classified as an escharotic—that is, a topical paste which burns and destroys skin tissue and leaves behind a thick, black scar called an eschar.[1] Escharotics were widely used to treat skin lesions in the early 1900s, but have since been replaced by safer and more effective treatments.[2] Escharotics such as Cansema are currently advertised by some alternative medicine marketers as treatments for skin cancer, often with unsubstantiated testimonials and unproven claims of effectiveness.[3] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has listed Cansema as a "fake cancer cure" and warns consumers to avoid it.[4]

~ Alternative Medicine ~ to the rescue!

And this, amongst other reasons, is why we don't allow medical threads.

 

[[FnG]magnolia]

ugh, new member....

Go away....

Old member.

Quoting from another forum, Mags? Fo' shame!

Well, two actually. The reddit users at the end of the thread I posted above are obviously from reddit (and the thing was a big deal there I, uh, heard) and the quote I posted above is not

 

[[FnG]magnolia]

This is the problem she was attempting to fix.

With zinc chloride.

On her nose.

With substantial encouragement from people with no medical background.

PREPARE YOURSELF!

 

[[FnG]magnolia]

wait a minute was the original mark on her nose actually confirmed as cancerous by a proper medical person? and she just wanted to save money rather than having surgery to chop it off.

or was she just genuinely some Christian nutter?

It was professionally diagnosed, yes. She turned down conventional medical care, preferring to "go the natural route, after much research on the web".

 

[[FnG]magnolia]

it's america though where most peoples can't afford healthcare.

I doubt anyone in the UK would be stoopid enough to mess about with that stuff.

She paid for the reconstruction surgery through her health insurance. The same health insurance which would have paid for the initial, professional treatment of the BCC which she chose not to progress with.

You'll note that there are a number of nationalities posting in her thread, not just Americans.

 

[[FnG]magnolia]

What I find amazing with their thread is that it's just so layered, there is so much going on. I feel so sorry for Hoxsey who, although obviously facing her own challenges complicated by her preference to avoid standard medical procedures, is just cajoled by other probably well-meaning internet people of varying degrees of crazy (bonder and djt10 are quite, quite mad).

And even when the reddit guys chime in (correctly) calling them all on their bull**** and Bwakul adds a bit of authority on the matter, they're laughed out of town.

Somebody out there still believes that conventional cancer therapies work and that oncologists know their business? My old naturopath (who cured my cancer and other chronic/degenerative diseases all at the same time with a 5 week treatment)used to call conventional cancer treatments "barbaric" and after years of research, I think he was being kind. He cured all of his cancer patients who went there first and most of them who came as a last resort after their oncologists sent them home to die (after the insurance ran out). No drugs, no chemo, no radiation, nothing harmful whatsoever.

Jesus Christ

It's rare that I read a thread which makes me want to either laugh or cry or maybe laugh and cry because what else can you do when faced with this, this thing which actually happened with and to a real person?

 

[[FnG]magnolia]

I just mean the majority of the people in general here are quick to dismiss without looking into things further. I fully understand the forums rule of no medical threads (and agree with it)

Is this related to the woman whose nose fell off due to the caustic zinc chloride she applied - and later drank - on advice from a forum of non-medical professionals and against the advice of the FDA (my thread, this one right here) or something else? You'll have to be more specific about what we're too quick to dismiss because I'm not on the same page, or perhaps book, as you.