What are the advantages and disadvantages of photodynamic therapy for cancer?
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a method of cancer treatment that uses drugs called photosensitization substances and a light source that causes a chemical reaction to cancer cells. Compared to other treatments, photodynamic cancer therapy is less invasive, does not have long -term side effects or scarring, is accurate in focusing cells and is generally cheaper. Other advantages are that this can be done on an outpatient basis and allows rapid recovery and repetition of treatment in the same place if necessary. The main disadvantage is that treatment is limited to body areas that can be exposed to light, such as skin and internal organs. Other disadvantages include extreme light sensitivity for some time after treatment and swelling at the site of treatment.
The advantages of photodynamic therapy for cancer include the speed of the patient's recovery and the minimally invasive nature of treatment. Patients are served special medicines called photosensitization agents that focus on metabolically active cancerno cells. Although healthy cells also absorb the drug, they quickly get rid of the drug and are not affected. The light source, usually low -energy laser light, is applied to cancer cells and reacts with a photosensitization agent to cause cancer cell death. Healthy tissues and cells are not affected by therapy, which is usually performed as outpatient because recovery is fast.
Photodynamic therapy focuses on cancer cells with little or no damage to other tissues, which significantly reduces the side effects and recovery time. Along with the killing of cancer cells, it is another advantage that it also lowers the blood vessels that feed them. Unlike radiation therapy, photodynamic therapy can be repeatedly used in the same place if necessary. It is also used epistively in conjunction with other cancer therapies. This therapy is also generally cheaper than other therapies.
the primary disadvantage of the photoCancer's delynamic therapy is to reduce its use to regions that can be exposed to light. Low -energy laser light cannot penetrate the tissues deeper than about 1/3 inch (8.46 mm). Large tumors and cancer, which were generally metastasized, are not treated with photodynamic therapy due to the inability of light source to penetrate large tumors or reach areas where cancer could spread. Photodynamic therapy is effectively used for skin and esophageal and lung cancer.
The side effects of photodynamic therapy for cancer are generally mild and short -term. The main preventive measure after treatment involves protection of skin and eyes from sunlight and strong inner lights. When preparing for this therapy, patients should obscure home, pull blinds and curtains, and take sunglasses, a wide edge of a hat and tightly woven clothes that cover all the skin for their therapy. Depending on the type of photosensitization agents used may increaseSensitivity to light up to several months after photodynamic therapy.