Basel cell carcinoma is one of the most common types of skin cancer. Luckily it's usually very easy to treat and doesn't spread to other parts of the body, meaning it can be cured. One method of treatment that is especially effective is light treatment, or photodynamic therapy, which is noninvasive and works just as well as traditional treatments like radiation or cryosurgery.
Definition
Photodynamic therapy, or PDT, is a type of treatment for skin cancer that uses a focused light and photosensitizing creams or gels to target cancer cells and kill them. This works with only surface-based cancers, but it is an effective treatment nonetheless.
Types of PDT Treatment
There are several different types of lights used in the treatment of basal cell cancers. One option is laser light, which can be adjusted to focus on the single color that the photosensitizing agent is most receptive to, is very focused and can be made very bright. Non-laser light treatment is intended more for skin cancers that cover a larger area of skin.
PDT Treatment Procedure
Undergoing light therapy treatment is actually very straightforward and painless. First, a photosensitizing agent is rubbed on the affected area. A few hours are allowed to pass to let the cream penetrate the cancer cells. Then a light is shone on the cancer for a specified period of time depending on the intensity of the light. Then, the treated area is covered with a bandage, and you will be provided with care instructions.
PDT Side Effects
It is normal for some side effects to occur following your light therapy treatment. Usually, the area that was treated will feel extra-sensitive and may burn or sting. It may also itch and and turn red. A few weeks following treatment, it will appear as though you got a sunburn in the treated area, with swelling, redness and burning being the most common side effects. Your skin may also blister and peel. In rare cases, the area becomes infected, requiring antibiotic treatment.
PDT After Care
Following light treatment for basal cell cancers, you will need to follow specific after-care instructions, usually provided by your doctor. However, they typically include precautions like protecting the treated area from light for a designated period of time until the photosensitizing agent wears off, using lidocaine to relieve pain and treating blisters and peeling skin with prescribed creams.
Tags: photosensitizing agent, treated area, basal cell, basal cell cancers, cancer cells
