Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) as a Cancer Treatment Photodynamic therapy for bladder cancer
PDT may be an option for treating cancers that develop in the lining of the bladder, which is a unique, hollow organ. By threading a small tube with an attached camera and light through the urethra, doctors may treat cancerous areas directly.
The photosensitizer may also make the cancer cells emit light, allowing doctors to see them. Research has shown that this approach works well in treating bladder cancers. Clinical trials are ongoing.
PDT may be an option for treating bladder cancers that:
- Have come back after other therapies
- Are widely spread over the inside of the bladder
- Aren’t responding to standard treatment
- Are in patients who aren’t candidates for surgery