Shedding Light On Treating Skin Cancer
Conveniently located to serve Western Canada.
Before & After images are available during consultation.
Question
My winter vacations are over and now I have a new spot on my back. I think I got it from too many sunburns in Mexico. I am worried that it may be skin cancer. My friend had basal cell carcinoma skin cancer and it was treated with surgery. If I do have skin cancer, are there less destructive treatments?
Answer
SO, HOW DOES THIS NEW MODALITY TREAT SKIN CANCER?
HERE IS A BRIEF SUMMARY AND EXPLANATION:
METVIX® CREAM
Metvix® cream is applied to the area of the skin where sBCC is located. Its unique properties make it penetrate into the skin with relative ease. Occlusion with tape further enhances this penetration.
ONCE METVIX® IS IN THE SKIN, IT’S PREFERENTIALLY ABSORBED INTO ABNORMAL CELLS
Once Metvix® is in the skin, it’s preferentially absorbed into abnormal cells, such as cancer cells, and converted into a photo-reactive substance. This is an important concept as the cancerous cells are more active than normal cells in converting Metvix® into a powerful product that is ready to be activated by light. As such, there is a big difference in the product concentration between cancerous cells and normal cells. This difference allows precise targeting of abnormal tissues with sparing of the normally functioning skin.
THE CONVERSION TAKES APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS
The conversion takes approximately 3 hours while the patient waits. Once sufficient product has been generated in the cancerous cells, it can be visualized using a hand-held device. This confirms precise targeting of the abnormal tissues and the extent of the sun damage.
LIGHT THERAPY
Now, it’s time for “Light Therapy”. Once Metvix® has been converted into a photo-reactive product, it’s time to activate it. This is achieved by shining specific light on the skin. Once the product is exposed to the light and the surrounding tissue oxygen, it is activated and, in the process, destroys the cells in which it’s located. Since more of the product is located in the cancerous cells compared to the normal tissues, many more of these cells are eliminated. The most appropriate light source is Aktilite®. This orange light, with its precise wavelength, allows deep penetration into the skin, where cancer cells can hide. In addition, it is specific for the photo-reactive product. This precession is at the core of this new sophisticated therapy allowing a targeted combination of the drug, light, and oxygen.
It’s always a great day when new, precise, targeted cancer treatments are proving effective in our quest for a cancer-free world. Treating skin cancers just got easier with the introduction of Metvix®-PDT. If you or someone that you know has superficial basal cell carcinoma, it does not hurt to ask if your doctor offers this new therapy. At the same time, when you venture into a dermatologist’s office and see orange light being applied to a patient’s skin, don’t worry – you are not dreaming and it’s not the set of Star Trek – it’s a modern way to treat selected skin cancers.
