Reply #25: Photodynamic therapy [View All]

[midnight armadillo]

Photodynamic therapy works by injecting a drug that breaks down into free radicals (oxygen ions) when hit by a certain color light. So, you inject the drug, then shine the light on the spot you want the free radicals produced. The drug in the rest of the body is eventually broken down harmlessly. The radicals are extremely chemically reactive and attack all the surrounding cells. Cells that get enough damage kill themselves, in a process called apoptosis. The advantage of this type of therapy is that only the tumor site receives the damage, unlike normal chemo or radiation treatment where the whole body is severely effected. For things like skin or colon cancer it's an easy treatment to do, for others it involves surgery, like your doctor said.

I'm starting a job in a few months that involves brain tumor research. The more I learn about brain tumors the more motivated I am to bust my butt in this upcoming job and hopefully make a meaningful contribution to the treatment of this disease. I wish you the best of luck and good spirits in your treatment if the tumor has returned!!!