Risks of alternative cancer treatment

Q: I have a bit of squamous cell skin cancer on my face. I’m hoping that black salve will knock it out without my having to have surgery or radiation. My wife says I have to ask you first. So? — Hank F., Livingston, N.J.

A: Smart woman, your wife. Black salve is dangerous. While sellers claim it kills skin cancer cells and leaves healthy cells untouched, it actually erodes your skin, causing permanent scarring and disfigurement, often triggers serious infection and leaves cancer cells deep in the skin untouched. The Food and Drug Administration recently issued an alert saying that it should not be used to treat any condition, especially skin cancer.

What is this menace? It is a salve, cream or paste containing sanguinarine, Sanguinaria canadensis, or bloodroot, alone or in combination with zinc chloride.

Squamous cell cancer is the second-most common form of skin cancer in the U.S., accounting for 15 percent of cases. Fortunately, it’s usually easily treated. The key is not to delay — especially by messing around with dangerous, unproved remedies.

Q: I am supposed to beef up my red blood cell count — I’m anemic. But I am a pescatarian. What foods will help if I don’t eat meat or dairy? — Joyce H., Chelsea, Vt.

A: Nutrition-related anemia is the most common form. Fortunately, it can be eased by making diet changes and, if needed, taking iron supplements.

Make sure your doctor continues to monitor your symptoms and bloodwork to see if you need iron supplements.

■ Eating fish means you are able to access a great natural source of iron. Tuna, haddock and sardines are iron-rich. Around 3 ounces of sardines contain 1.7 grams of iron.

■ Vegetables such as beans, lentils and cooked dark, leafy greens deliver an important additional amount of iron, but you may need to eat vitamin-c-rich foods with them to promote better iron absorption. So double up those vegetables with berries, citrus fruits, peppers, tomatoes and broccoli.

■ Certain whole grains are also loaded: Teff, quinoa, barley and whole wheat tortillas should be part of your weekly menus.

■ And to protect yourself from anemia related to a B12 deficiency, you should take half a multivitamin twice a day, or include nutritional yeast, fortified plant-based milks from oats, almonds, cashews, soy or hemp, and tempeh, algae/seaweed, and mushrooms in your diet.