Photodynamic Therapy for Skin Cancer


Photodynamic therapy is the latest type of treatment used for skin cancer. It is also referred as photochemotherapy, phototherapy or photoradiation therapy. It includes the use of specific drugs known as photosensitizing agents. These drugs are basically chemicals that make the skin cells sensitive to light. These chemicals may either be applied on the skin or may be injected into the blood. Then the drugs are being absorbed and they become sensitive to light. Light along with these photo sensitizing agents is used to destroy the cancer cells. It is only in the presence of some special light or laser that these drugs become active. This treatment is particularly useful in treating skin cancer that has developed over the bones.


Photodynamic therapy is carried out in three steps. An intravenous drug is administered or a light sensitive cream or liquid may be applied. The incubation period is then started which may last for a few minutes or even few days. The tissue which is affected by cancer is then exposed to light that in turn activates the photo sensitizing medication. This treatment involves the destruction of selected tissues. This therapy has been used successfully in the treatment of skin cancer patients and has helped them to improve their quality of life as well. Though it is still not widely used, this therapy still holds great significance especially in the treatment of localized cancers. Some of the drugs that have been approved are Porfimer sodium, Aminolevulinic acid, and Methyl ester of ALA. 

This therapy has many advantages and disadvantages as well.  It is definitely less invasive than surgery, can be done within a short period of time, is targeted at specific cancer cells, can be repeated multiple times, has no long term side effects, or scars left once the site is healed and above all this treatment is much cheaper. However, the limitation is that it can work only in the region where light can reach. Thus, it cannot be used to treat cancers that have spread to other areas. Moreover, it may leave the patient to be very sensitive to light for temporary period and hence proper precautions must be taken when the drugs are administered into the body. Also, patients having blood diseases cannot undergo photodynamic therapy.

Research is being done to test the success rate in the treatment of other types of cancers like bladder, cervix, prostate, stomach, pancreas, brain, larynx, head and neck, etc. It is also being studied to see the effects of this therapy in precancerous conditions. Indepth study is being done on how the impact of this therapy can be enhanced by promoting the death of the cancerous cells as well as counteracting the ones that protect cancer cells. If you are looking out for some more information related to photodynamic therapy or anything related to skin cancer, then you can get all these details here. It will update your knowledge not only on skin cancer and its treatment, but also other types of cancer. 

3 comments:

Martin Headen said...

Really great information!! Thanks a lot. Cheers!!

Unknown said...

thanks for posting!!

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Unknown said...

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