One of the newest and most exciting types of thera

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One of the newest and most exciting types of therapy for mesothelioma is called photodynamic therapy (PDT).

These are 4 commonly asked questions about this form of treatment.
1. How does photodynamic therapy work?
A drug called Photofrin is injected into a patient, this drug
specifically targets and bonds to mesothelioma cells. When the patient
is exposed to laser or high intensity light,UGG Kensington boot, the photofrin on the
cancer cells become active and kill the tumor cells. Doctors insert a
fiber optic cable into the patient's chest, and turn on the light on
the chest area.
2. How does the light work?
The light interacts with the drug, creating a special kind of oxygen
that eats away the cancerous cells. Timing and aim are critical in PDT,
it takes some time for the drug to actually concentrate in the cancer
cells and leave the normal cells. When applied at the right time the
light only affects the cancerous cells without disturbing the normal
cells.
3. What are the drawbacks of photodynamic therapy?
The main drawbacks of this therapy are that the laser light is not very
strong, typically only penetrating three centimeters or so, so PDT is
best used against tumors that are close to the skin or on the surface
of the internal organs,cheap UGG Roseberry sale, for tumors that have penetrated deep into the
organs it might not be of significant help. The drugs used in this type
of therapy are often absorbed by healthy cells as well, but usually
dissipates very quickly, allowing them to regenerate where the
cancerous cells had taken over.
4.What are the side effects of photodynamic therapy ?
There are also significant side effects. The major side effect is
photosensitivity to sunlight {increased sensitivity to sunlight},cheap UGG Adirondack ii, so a
patient must avoid the sun for up to six weeks or risk sun damage.
Furthermore, many patients report a metallic taste in their mouths
accompanied by severe nausea. Nevertheless, this radical new treatment
has demonstrated a marked improvement in many of the clinical trials,
but is yet to be approved for general use.