photodynamic therapy
photodynamic therapy Hi,
This is a new subject to me, so I’ll post it in a few sections to get the most coverage.
HAs anyone had photodynamic therapy? A friend of a friends son etc is recieving this in Moscow for a brain tumor which is too far gone. He is too young to receive treatment in the UK, but appears to be responding well to this new treatment and is now more tolerant to his chemo without goung neutophenic.
My breast cancer has returned in the lymph nodes in my collar bone. Radio & surgery are out and I’m on my 3rd type of chemo over a 7mth period. I’m worried that the longer the cancer is in my body the more likely it is too spread. I’m sure everyone has been there. So I’m going to ask my Onc about this other therapy and wondered if any others had been there too.
Forever living in hope
Addie
information Dear Addie
Haven’t had the treatment, but read about it. It does seem an interesting way forward, but not for everyone. If it truly works on unpleasant brain tumours, then more power to it.
I am attaching a couple of web sites for your information, plus a comment from a question/answer page:
cancerbacup.org.uk/Treatments/Othertreatments/Photodynamictherapy
canceractive.com/page.php?n=459
Q: I have just been told I have cancer of the esophagus. I am terrified at the thought of surgery. Are there other options?
A: Photodynamic therapy is a new treatment for some types of cancer. It uses laser light combined with a light-sensitive drug (sometimes called a photosensitizing agent) to destroy cancer cells.
It works by introducing a photosensitizing agent into the body; this is a drug which makes cells more sensitive to light.
The drug collects mostly in cancer cells. It is ineffective until exposed to light. When a laser light is directed onto the area of cancer, the drug is activated and destroys the cancer cells. It is not yet established as a standard treatment, so you would need to ask your surgeon or oncologist about its suitability for your individual case, availability in your area.
best wishes
Phoebe
PDT Professor Gordon McVie is very enthusiastic about PDT, and he seems to have some success with it, but unfortunately in Italy. It seems to be little used over here, and not for breast.
There is a centre in Leeds, but in 2003, they were only taking private patients. However, they will consider breast cancer patients, and some forms of the cancer will not be suitable. If you go, they say bring all your records so they do not have to redo mammograms, etc.
One thing Prof McVie said about PDT - the cancer does not become resistant to it as it does to chemo, you can do PDT repeatedly.
This is all I have been able to find out about it.