Butterfly Wings

OK, you know the tune. I’m in a bit of a silly mood. But anyway, word of warning - this is about the thing on my forehead. Actual details here. The “song” makes more sense that way.

He said “We’ll have to treat it, looks like a BCC.
It’s too inflamed right now, but it looks like one to me.
I’ll test it in two weeks. See you then”

And now I’m making a paste out of bicarb,
Smearing the paste on the bump,
Killing it softly with bicarb,
Killing it softly with bicarb,
Watching it oozing and shrinking,
Killing it softly with bicarb…

He said “You can’t freeze these ones, what doctor did you see?”
Rolling his eyes and thinking “typical GP!”
“The most effective treatment is just to cut it out”

But I’m making a paste out of bicarb,
Smearing the paste on the bump,
Killing it softly with bicarb,
Killing it softly with bicarb,
Watching it oozing and shrinking,
Killing it softly with bicarb…

“There’s this expensive treatment, a cream to kill the beast.
It works quite well, for four in five cases at least.
But if it fails in your case we’re back to surgery”

So I’m making a paste out of bicarb,
Smearing the paste on the bump,
Killing it softly with bicarb,
Killing it softly with bicarb,
Watching it oozing and shrinking,
Killing it softly with bicarb…

The bicarb (sodium bicarbonate) idea came to me after writing the other post. While we were researching alternative ideas for treating DS, a lot was mentioned about alkaline terrain being inhospitable to cancer. I know I’m generally on the acidic side (and I’m sure there’s a clever remark in that, but I’m too tired), and figured that between alkalinising my diet more (giving up coffee helps too) and using bicarb topically, it was at least worth a try before going back to the doctor. After developing the theory and the plan, I actually found online references to a doctor who uses bicarb (often high doses intravenously) to treat cancer (including skin cancers). He’s also criticised by many for his methods, as is usually the way with alternative practitioners, but it was enough backup for me to try my way - which seems to me to be pretty harmless whether or not it works.

So anyway, I’ll spare you the really gross photos, but if you want to see some progress shots, they’re on the next page.

[More:]

Apologies for the wildly varied differences in lighting and scale. While my liver may not be completely happy, I was not suffering from jaundice at any time. I took my own photos.

Before first bicarb application:

Morning after first bicarb application: while cleaning off the dried paste, the scab fell off. Technically, while this looks bigger than the “before” shot, the actual BCC was about the same size (or smaller, having discarded the scab).

Bicarb paste was applied each night for ten nights (and sometimes during the day if I was able to stay home for a few hours) and basically the thing adopted a volcano effect, erupting fluids, which were absorbed by the bicarb. I think the process was slowed by my covering it with a bandage when I had to go out in public or wear a hat or helmet. It would stick to the bandage and take time to regrow the scab. As you can see, it has shrunk substantially. These photos were taken the morning after a bicarb-free night. I decided to just let it heal and see how it looked.

Another twelve (and thirteen) days later, with release of the final scab:

I’m thinking of doing another round of bicarb to see what I can manage before the follow-up appointment.