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We’ve all seen ads for “miracle” supplements that supposedly prevent or cure cancer or for special foods and/or diets that make tumors “melt away.” Many times, these claims are not based on sound clinical evidence, and people can end up spending a lot of money, with disappointing results. We don’t know why many cancers originate or develop, or why cure rates vary. Does that mean you should throw up your hands and give up, leaving all to chance and fate? Absolutely not! There is so much you can do!
As the body's largest and fastest-growing organ, skin has one important job: protection. The American Academy of Dermatology likens it to a coat: It helps us stay warm when it’s cold, helps cool us when it’s hot, protects our insides from the environment, and prevents the body from losing fluids. It’s a big job. And when you consider that the first line of defense—the skin’s top layer, or epidermis—is only about 1/100th of an inch thick, the skin’s work seems even more remarkable. But for all its strength, the skin is also highly susceptible: Skin cancer is, by far, the most common type of cancer.
