Edit Photodynamic Therapy

<p>The disadvantage of photodynamic therapy is primarily that it can only be used for certain types of skin cancer and pre-cancers and these have to be carefull assessed and pre-determined by taking a very fine biopsy sample for laboratory analysis.</p> <p>The treatable skin cancers are basal cell carcinomas, Bowen's Disease and also actinic keratosis. Anatomical positioning is also important because although collateral damage to normal skin cells is most unlikely and unusual great care has to be used in areas such as the surrounds of the eye.</p> <p>Malignant melanomas are currently definitely not amenable to treatment with routine photodynamic therapy or PDT at the moment.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>What happens when using photodynamic therapy?</strong></p> <p>Well to begin, a skin biopsy, usually using a device called a punch biopsy is taken to make the diagnosis. This sounds rather horrid but there is no "punching" involved. Following application of a small amount of anaesthetic a tiny 2mm core of tissue is taken from the suspect target skin cancer.</p>

Selected: Text Block Text Block Full Width Image Banner Image Side By Side Images Left Aligned Image Right Aligned Image Quote Video

No Background Colour CR Purple Medium Purple Light Purple Dark Pink Light Pink Light Grey Dark Grey No Background Colour