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Light and medicines are not harmful to the body, but they can damage cells when used together. This principle is applied in photodynamic therapy. This treatment uses light-activated drugs called photosensitising agents to kill cancer cells. Lasers or other sources like LEDs are the preferred light source. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) allows small areas of abnormal cell growth or tumours to be treated precisely.
During photodynamic therapy, the photosensitive agent is either injected into the bloodstream or applied on the skin based on the part of the body being treated. Once the cancer cell has absorbed the drug, the light source is applied to the area to be treated. Apart from killing the cancer cells, photodynamic therapy may also destroy the blood vessel that feeds the tumour by stimulating the cells of the immune system to act against it.
The time between drug administration and applying light source is called the drug-to-light interval and can be anything between a few hours to a few days. This time depends upon the drug used.
Photodynamic therapy has the potential to destroy abnormal cells in the body. However, it is preferred to be used in areas of the body where the light source can reach easily, such as the skin, eyes, mouth, food pipe and lungs. Some cancers that can be treated using photodynamic therapy include:
Photodynamic therapy for other types of cancers is still under clinical trials. Apart from cancers, other conditions where photodynamic therapy is used include:
There have been some promising results on using photodynamic therapy for treating warts, acne and Paget’s disease.
Photodynamic therapy has the potential to destroy abnormal cells in the body. However, it is preferred to be used in areas of the body where the light source can reach easily, such as the skin, eyes, mouth, food pipe and lungs. Some cancers that can be treated using photodynamic therapy include:
Photodynamic therapy for other types of cancers is still under clinical trials. Apart from cancers, other conditions where photodynamic therapy is used include:
There have been some promising results on using photodynamic therapy for treating warts, acne and Paget’s disease.
The process to get photodynamic therapy includes two stages –
In the first phase of treatment, the light-sensitive drug is administered into the body either as a cream, injection or orally. You will be asked to return after a few hours or a few days, depending upon the type of drug given.
In this phase, you will need to visit the hospital or clinic for light treatment, which will involve light or a laser on the treatment area. This procedure can take upto 45 minutes. A local anaesthetic agent may be used to numb the site or help you relax during the procedure.
Your healthcare team will guide you about post-procedure care. You will need to visit your doctor for a follow-up appointment to enable them to evaluate your condition.
Photodynamic therapy is used with conventional cancer treatment options like surgery and radiation therapy. It is an advanced treatment with some benefits like:
Photodynamic therapy is a safe procedure but may cause side effects in some people. These include:
Most side effects of photodynamic therapy are temporary and resolve once treatment is complete.