Photodynamic therapy to treat skin cancer is a wonderful, non-invasive treatment that uses special drugs, called photosensitizing agents, along with light to kill skin cancer cells. Also called PDT, photodynamic therapy is only effective when special photo sensitive drugs have been turned on by light to treat the affected area. Your medical dermatologist treats an area of skin with a special topical medicine which is absorbed by the cells. Light is applied to the area, causing the drug to react with oxygen and form chemicals that kill the targeted cells. PDT may also help by destroying blood vessels that feed the cancer cells and by alerting the immune system to attack the cancer.
The ever-growing support for topical PDT to treat skin cancer in Orange County
Topical PDT using aminolaevulinic acid or its methyl ester is an increasingly popular treatment option for actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma, especially when treating large areas on the face and scalp. Actinic keratoses are actually pre-cancerous lesions that can be uncomfortable, unsightly and have the potential to turn into squamous cell carcinoma. PDT treatment methods for actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma are the same, although different light sensitizing drugs may be used.
The drug-to-light interval, the period of time from when the photo-sensitive drug is applied to the time the area is exposed to light can last from a few hours to a few days depending on the drug used. PDT can be used in conjunction with radiation and chemotherapy and may be applied more than once.
Advantages include no long-term side effects, minimally invasive, often done on an outpatient basis, targets precise areas, produces little scarring and often costs less than other cancer treatments.
PDT leaves people with a light sensitivity for some time after treatment, so patients must take special precautions, especially on sunny days as sunscreen will be ineffective. PDT cannot be used in people who have certain blood diseases, such as porphyrias or who are allergic to porphyrins. Burning and stinging are common during treatment. Treated skin usually turns red and may blister and swell afterwards. Skin may also be itchy, scaly or change color. These side effects usually disappear shortly after the treatment.
For more information on PDT set up an appointment with an Orange County dermatologist at one of our three locations in Orange County.