SKIN CANCER
The incidence of skin cancer, and of melanoma in particular, has increased substantially over the last few decades. Knowledge about early detection and skin cancer symptoms are essential. Actinic keratosis (AK) is the most common warning signal of skin cancer in fair-skinned people. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common non-melanoma skin cancer. Skin cancer mainly affects areas of the skin that have been exposed to the sun.
More information about skin cancer.
In cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer in which surgery or Cryotherapy as the primary treatment is not considered appropriate, topical treatments imiquimod cream, ingenol mebutate gel (IngMeb) or photodynamic therapy (PDT) may be used. PDT involves applying a special light-reactive cream to precancerous skin lesions in the treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancer. Afterwards, the area is exposed to a particular type of light for a short amount of time or daylight. This activates the topical treatment which damages cancerous cells. Afterwards the area heals over, and may resume a normal appearance. One important benefit of PDT topical therapy is that no scarring and only 1-2 treatment is necessary.
Uptake of the drug with a P.L.E.A.S.E.® pretreatment is 3 times higher than with the curetage.
Haak et al. Ablative fractional laser enhances MAL-induced PpIX accumulation: Impact of laser channel density, incubation time and drug concentration
Link to study
Erlendsen et al. Ablative fractional laser alters biodistribution of ingenol mebutate in the skin
Link to study
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
- Up to 50% increased efficacy after 3 month
(instead conventional PDT without P.L.E.A.S.E.®) - 3 times increased longtime efficacy after 12 month
- Much shorter therapy - 30 min instead 3 hours (instead conventional PDT)
- Painless compared to CO2 laser and red light treatment
- Safe and high tolerability
- Improves significantly aesthetic results
- Safe therapy - absence of human papillomavirus DNA in the plume compared to CO2 laser
- Shorter healing times and milder side effects (i.e. discomfort, erythema, swelling and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)) compared to CO2 laser
Please ask your doctor to choose the right therapy.