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Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment that uses a medication, called a photo-sensitizer, and a particular type of light. When photo-sensitizers are exposed to a particular wavelength of light, they produce a form of fresh air that destroys nearby tissues.
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Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a relatively new type of treatment. It uses a drug and a special type of light. • The light could be a laser or another type of light. • The drug is a chemical that makes the skin cells sensitive to light. This type of drug is called a photosensitising agent. • The chemical can be introduced by injecting a drug into the bloodstream or it can be applied to the skin in a cream. • The drug is absorbed by the body’s cells and makes them sensitive to light. When the area to be treated is exposed to the light the cancer cells are destroyed.
PDT is best used in cases where you would need a lot of surgery. So it is mostly used for large skin cancers that are not too deep or where there are several cancers in an area. In trials, the appearance of the treated area after PDT is better than after surgery. PDT is not suitable for deep basal cell cancers or squamous cell skin cancers because the light cannot penetrate far enough into the skin.
Pros and cons of PDT : • It has no long-term side effects when used properly. • It is less invasive than surgery • It usually takes only a short time and is most often done as an outpatient. • It can be targeted very precisely. • Unlike radiation, PDT can be repeated many times at the same site if needed. • There is little or no scarring after the site heals. • It often costs less than other cancer treatments.
