I recently read on the Princess Margaret Hospital's website in Toronto, Ontario Canada, that they have a new cancer drug that has been proven successful in killing cancer cells alone triggered by laser light. Clinical trials in patients are one to two years away. Carol...

Hi Carol,
I recently posted an article about this in the news section, about photodynamic theory. You can find it at:
http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/news/story.asp?newsId=1774

This type of therapy seems to be of great promise, in particular for patients with recurrence who have already been treated with radiation therapy. - Sheldon

Does anyone know if this available anywhere in the US or only Britian and Canada? I might still have a voice box had I known about this 6 years ago.

Take caare,
Eileen

Great News!!! check out the website...the project was funded in part by National Institutes of Health (US) and the U.S Army...Should be available...Eileen.. Carol Ann...

Brain, Gary,

What's the scoop here?

Hello all.

I hate to be "The Devil's Advocate" here, but could this be a monetary issue here?

Could it be possible that there is not enough Money in a possible better TX than the more expensive and definitely more intrusive and debilitating customary practice?

With all the rumors flying around out there that they have found the cure for cancer, but will not reveal it because of how much money would be lost it makes me wonder.

This may seem like an absurd point of view, but I am a very cynical person.

Also why is the military researching it. And the part about no funding for research raises an eyebrow as the military usually gets whatever it needs unless there is a war going on and the politicians are jockeying for a controlling position.

Or could it just be me and I have gone completely mad?

Or am I suffering from heatstroke in S. Fla.? Petey

Petey, just food for thought. Go to the website for Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto and contact them. Ask the question. My husband was asked to participate in a clinical trial (concerning PET scan) prior to starting his treatment, but had to decline because his case was an emergency. We would have been excited to take part in it. I am excited about this drug. I am not sure about the funds to sponsor this project. I think anyone who has cancer should inquire. Keep us posted.
Carol Ann

Brian, Gary,
What do you know about this photodynamic therapy? How effective is it? How soon do they know if it is working? Can it be done more than once? This just might save one member from a horrible surgery.

Thanks,
Eileen

Eileen, I found some information on PDT.
1 877 275 7724 Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Buffalo, New York. Re: Clinical Trials
National Cancer Institute www.cancer.gov
We need a cure for ourselves, our children. I'll keep you posted if I hear any more information on PDT. Carol Ann.

I have to be honest that I am just learning about it myself. What I do know is that it is currently being used "off label" at one institution and about 175 H&N patients have been treated with it. I think that is is too soon to look at the 5 year survival rate and comparisons with more conventional treatment (along with double blind studies) will have to be conducted to prove it's efficacy.

It is exciting to think of the prospect of another treatment modality that doesn't involve the old slash, burn and poison protocols.

I do wonder why more H&N patients are not showing up here who have been treated with PBT (Proton Beam Therapy).