Mesothelioma TreatmentOther Therapies
Photodynamic
Sometimes referred to as photoradiation, photochemotherapy, or phototherapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a cancer treatment that involves the use of a drug called a photosensitizing agent, activated by exposure to light and used to destroy cancer cells. Depending on the extent of your disease, your doctor may suggest photodynamic therapy for the treatment of your mesothelioma.
What is Photodynamic Therapy?
The procedure for PDT involves either applying a photosensitizing agent to the skin or injecting it into the cancer patients blood stream. In two to three days, the drug will be absorbed by the cancer cells. At that time, a light source will be applied to the affected area. The light will cause the drug to react to oxygen which will form a chemical that can kill the cancer cells. Researchers note that PDT may also work by destroying the blood vessels that keep cancer cells alive and by helping the bodys natural immune system attack the cancer.
The Advantages of PDT
Photodynamic therapy is much less invasive than surgery and results in less scarring than many traditional therapies. It can also be precisely targeted at a particular area. Unlike conventional radiation therapy, which can cause burns and other concerns when repeated, PDT can be used over and over again in the same area without causing damage.
Breakthroughs linking PDT with successful treatment of mesothelioma are on the horizon. Recently, doctors have begun experimenting with a procedure that involves the use of photodynamic therapy during surgery to help prevent the recurrence of cancer on large surfaces. Such surfaces would include the peritoneum (lining of the abdomen) and the pleura (lining of the lung), two areas usually affected in mesothelioma patients.
Disadvantages and Side Effects
Patients who are prescribed photodynamic therapy should be advised that the drugs used in the procedure can cause extreme sensitivity to light. Heed your doctors precautions concerning exposure to light during and after the procedure.
A distinct disadvantage of PDT is that it can only be used to treat areas that are easily reached by light, such as the skin, areas just under the skin, or the lining of internal organs. If your cancer has spread extensively to many parts of the body, PDT will most likely not be recommended.
