Skin cancer affects millions of people each year. Exposure to environmental conditions like sun and certain atmospheric pollutants contributes to the development of this avoidable, yet potentially life-threatening skin disease. Medical researchers have conducted studies on skin cancer, its causes, and its treatments. In recent studies, the role of cannabis in basal cell carcinoma treatment has been explored, pointing the way to new methods of approaching skin cancer care. Contact us to learn more!

Skin Cancer: An Overview

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. It can affect anyone, of any age and skin type. Rates of this highly treatable and preventable cancer are on the rise. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, approximately 9,500 Americans are diagnosed with some form of skin cancer every day. About one in every five people in the U.S. will develop skin cancer in their lifetimes. There are several types of skin cancers, including melanoma and non-melanoma cancers. The most common are non-melanoma cancers, particularly basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which together affect about 3 million Americans each year. If detected early, non-melanoma skin cancers are highly curable; however, if the cancer spreads to the lymph nodes, the survival rate drops dramatically. Non-melanoma skin cancers are characterized by several symptoms, including:

• Changes in mole shape and size
• Spread of skin pigments into surrounding tissues
• Sores that don’t heal
• Localized itching, redness, or swelling
• Abnormal spots or patches on the skin

Once detected by a dermatologist, skin cancers are often treated with medication or surgical interventions. The cancer cells may be frozen and removed in some cases; in more serious cases, a specialized surgical procedure known as Mohs micrographic surgery may be required to remove cancerous growths while preserving healthy surrounding tissues. Early intervention is the key to survival in this treatable form of cancer.

Cannabinoids & Skin Cancer

Medical cannabis has been researched extensively over the past decade. In a number of clinical studies, the chemical compounds extracted from cannabis have shown powerful health effects. One of these effects is apoptosis—cannabis’ ability to trigger cancer cell death in the human body. For basal cell carcinoma and related cancers, this cell-killing mechanism holds great promise. Have questions about using cannabis for skin cancer treatment? Contact Us! There are hundreds of chemical compounds found in cannabis. Of particular interest to the medical research community are compounds known as cannabinoids. Among these, cannabigerol (CBG), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabidivarin (CBV) have shown potential to kill skin cancer cells, switching off the activity of affected cells and, in some cases, reversing disease progression in limited clinical trials. These compounds are non-psychoactive and do not produce the characteristic “high” associated with cannabis use. THC has also been the subject of multiple studies in skin cancer treatment. One study from 2014 found that THC greatly reduced the size of induced melanoma tumors in mice. Another study published in 2015 found that a combination of THC and CBD in a 1:1 ratio successfully induced cancer cell death in melanoma cells in animal models. While further research is needed to fully understand how cannabinoids interact with skin cancer cells in humans, CBD, THC, and other cannabis compounds may help stop the spread of basal cell carcinoma and represent a significant step forward in natural treatment strategies. Explore cannabis-based products from King Harvest that are commonly used for a variety of health conditions.