Psoriasis increases the risk of cancer

Summary of health articles:

• New research shows that people with psoriasis are at higher risk of cancer
• Psoriasis and cancer are related to chronic inflammation and a stressed immune system
• Moderate psoriasis with some dietary changes by taking proteolytic enzymes and supplementing with natural immunomodulators

Psoriasis-related cancer

Psoriasis means dealing with inflamed, itchy patches of skin on a regular basis. It can be difficult to get flare-ups under control as there are many factors such as cold, dry weather, and stress that can trigger this skin condition. And now, unfortunately, there are more serious concerns for psoriasis sufferers to worry about. New research suggests that psoriasis may be linked to the development of cancer.

The study, conducted at the University of Manchester in the UK, found that psoriasis may be linked to a higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer over time. These results are based on a study that compiled and analyzed data from 58 different studies examining the skin condition and different forms of cancer.

Overall, the risk of developing cancer in people with psoriasis of any severity was 18 percent higher than in people without psoriasis. And in patients with more acute cases, the risk rose to 22 percent. Some of the cancers that have been found to be significantly associated with psoriasis are colon cancer, kidney cancer, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In addition, a correlation was found between severe psoriasis and a double risk of esophageal and liver cancer, an 11-fold increase in the risk of squamous cell carcinoma, and a 45 percent increase in the risk of pancreatic cancer.

How are psoriasis and cancer related?

Research should not investigate the mechanism behind the psoriasis-cancer connection, only determine if there is a link. While we can't say for sure why psoriasis might make a cancer diagnosis more likely, we do know that there is a well-established association between cancer and inflammation, and that psoriasis is related to chronic inflammation. Also, Jon Barron has often pointed out the link between cancer and an imbalanced immune system.

It's inflammation that causes red, scaly plaques to form on the skin. And systemic inflammation is linked to diseases ranging from cancer to heart disease to diabetes. As Jon Barron has explained for years, inflammation can be caused by a jammed immune system. Inflammation is the body's normal response to perceived intruders and harmful substances. However, when the immune system can no longer recognize what is and is not potentially dangerous, it can lead to chronic inflammation, which is the basis of many health problems including psoriasis. One of the main functions of the immune system is to identify cancer cells in your body when they first appear – and to eliminate them before they can take root and multiply. If your immune system is weakened in any way, it is less likely to be successful in that role – and cancer can develop.

Protect yourself from psoriasis and cancer

If you've been diagnosed with psoriasis, don't panic. Discoveries like this don't mean you are doomed to develop cancer. Even so, doing everything you can to protect your health in the future is a good motivator. This means getting to the bottom of your problems instead of focusing on treating the symptoms. Instead of using pharmaceutical medications, topical corticosteroids, or light therapy to treat your skin when psoriatic plaques appear, improve your health from the inside out by calming your immune system and reducing systemic inflammation.

First, you can take a look at your diet as there may be areas where improvement can be made. Sugar, processed meat, and alcohol are all linked to inflammation. Reduce or eliminate them to see what difference it can make. You can also increase your intake of foods like blueberries and nuts that have been shown to help fight inflammation.

At the same time, it's valuable to ingest proteolytic enzymes that control inflammation throughout your body and help repair your immune system. Read Jon Barron's review on Systemic Proteolytic Enzymes to better understand their benefits and what to look for in a supplement.

And finally, you should add some natural immunomodulators like L-carnosine and cetyl myristoleate to your dietary supplement program to help balance a misfiring immune system.