Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy or PDT is a relatively new type of treatment and an alternative to surgery in some cases. It is basically treatment with a chemical that makes the skin cells sensitive to light and when the area to be treated is exposed to laser light, the cells die off.

It is best used on thinner skin cancers and in cases where you would need a lot of surgery. It is not suitable for deeper skin cancers because the light cannot penetrate far enough into the skin.

PDT is not recommended for squamous cell skin cancers because there is too high a risk of the cancer coming back. PDT is now available on the NHS for Bowen's disease, basal cell skin cancers and actinic keratosis (solar keratosis).
 

How PDT works

To have this treatment, you first have the crust and scale removed from your skin tumour, you then have a cream that contains light sensitising chemical applied to the skin cancer and the surrounding area. Sometimes, you may have this chemical as a tablet or injection. After the drug has been absorbed, you will have a strong light shone on to the treated area for up to 45 minutes. The light will kill any cell that has absorbed the drug. You can have this treatment more than once.