LIGHT UP ORAL CANCER
The American Cancer Society says there will be about 30,000 new cases of oral cancer diagnosed this year. Nearly one-third will be cancers of the throat. Surgery is standard treatment. Now, a special light can kill the cancer.
 |
Transcript of the story
|
|
Healthy For Life Extra
extra information about the story |
|
For More Information
where to go for help |
Allison Jaccard is not talking about her life, but she could be. Two years ago, this mother was diagnosed with cancer of the larynx.
Allison Jaccard
Had larynx cancer
"This type of cancer is usually thought to be in people who have smoked for years, and I was never a smoker or a drinker."
She had surgery, but it didn't get all the cancer. She was offered an alternative treatment at the university of maryland, using laser light therapy.
Paul Castellanos, M.D.
Head and Neck Surgeon
University of Maryland
Baltimore, MD
"It is extremely exciting, I will tell you, for several reasons, not the least of which it's working."
Doctor paul castellanos uses a light-sensitive drug activated by a laser to destroy cancer cells. Through this device, the laser is directed to the cancer cells, killing them while healthy cells survive. The laser activates the drug to produce a toxic form of oxygen that kills the cancer.
Paul Castellanos, M.D.
"It's allowing us to take care of cancers of the throat and oral cavity without having to do ablations of those tissues that can have a devastating effect on the patient's voice."
In a study of people with early stage cancers of the mouth, throat and larynx, after one treatment, nearly 90% showed no evidence of the disease.
It worked for allison. She's been cancer-free since getting the treatment.
Allison Jaccard
"The thing that it's done for me is to make you realize just how precious everything you have is. So, it just gives you a perspective of what's important."
Doctor castellanos says the main side effect of the treatment is an extreme sensitivity to sunlight. Patients are required to stay completely out of the sun for up to six weeks. The light sensitive drug reacts to red light from the sun, so sunblock will not work.
BACKGROUND: Oral cancer is a cancerous growth that affects any part of the oral cavity, including the lips, upper or lower jaw, tongue, gum, cheeks and throat. These types of cancers account for up to 5 percent of all forms of cancer. When combining oral cancer with oropharyngeal cancer, the American Cancer Society says there will be nearly 28,000 new cases diagnosed in the United States in 2003. Oropharyngeal cancer develops in the oropharynx (the part of the throat just behind the mouth). The oropharynx begins where the oral cavity stops. The incidence rate for oral and oropharyngeal cancers has slowly been decreasing in the last 20 years, as has the death rate from these cancers. About 81 percent of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer patients survive at least one year after diagnosis. For all stages combined, the five-year survival rate is 56 percent and the 10-year survival rate is 41 percent. Laryngeal cancer and hypopharyngeal cancer are other cancers in nearby areas. About 9,500 people in the Untied States will be diagnosed with one of these types of cancers in 2003. Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers start in and around the "voice box" (larynx). The larynx, often called the "Adam's apple", produces sound for speaking. The hypopharynx surrounds the larynx. It is part of the esophagus, or food pipe. The treatment options for people with oral and oropharyngeal cancers or laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers are surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy either alone or in combination, depending on the stage of the tumor.
LIGHTING UP THE TUMORS: Photodynamic therapy, which uses a red laser and a light-sensitive drug to destroy cancer cells without harming normal tissue, represents a promising new treatment option for patients with throat or oral cancers. In a study of people with early stage cancers of the mouth, throat and larynx, researchers from the University of Maryland found nearly 90 percent of patients showed no evidence of the disease after just one treatment. Before the therapy is given, patients receive an intravenous injection of a light-sensitive drug called porfimer sodium, which passes through normal cells but collects in cancerous and precancerous cells. Two or three days later, doctors expose those areas to a red laser that causes a chemical reaction that destroys the diseased cells. The laser's concentrated beam of light activates the drug to produce a toxic form of oxygen that kills the cancer cells without harming the adjacent healthy cells.
OUTPATIENT PROCEDURE WITH FEW SIDE EFFECTS: Paul Castellanos, M.D., from the University of Maryland, says, "It is extremely exciting, I will tell you, for several reasons, not the least of which it's working. It's allowing us to take care of cancers of the throat and oral cavity without having to do ablations of those tissues that can have a devastating effect on the patient's voice." The procedure is performed while the patient is under anesthesia. It lasts about nine minutes and patients go home the same day. After the treatment, patients may experience some soreness or redness in the area that was exposed to the light, but the major side effect is sensitivity to direct sunlight. The photoactive drug lingers in the cells of the skin and eyes and patients must stay out of the sun for about six weeks after treatment.
Patricia Clisham, PA-C
University of Maryland Center for Voice, Swallowing and Esophageal Disorders
22 S. Greene St.
North Hospital, 8th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 328-2877
Copyright © 2003 Ivanhoe Broadcast News, Inc.
|
|
|
|
REVERSING SCLERODERMA
A risky treatment could be the answer for patients with serious forms of this disease. 
COLONOSCOPY-NOT JUST FOR COLON CANCER
A virtual colonoscopy detects a wide range of diseases outside the colon, which could save lives. June is national Scleroderma Awareness Month!
CLEARER MRI
A new invention helps doctors get clearer images of people who can't lie still.
HELP FOR BLOOD PRESSURE
An investigational device could help patients with this condition stay healthier.
SEEING THE HEART IN 3D
Researchers in the Netherlands are using virtual reality to see the heart like never before.
PANCREATIC CANCER VACCINE
A vaccine increases survival for patients with this deadly form of cancer.
NEW HELP FOR ALCOHOLICS
People who suffer from addiction may have a new option in the form of a pill.
TREATING URINARY INCONTINENCE
A sling helps women with this common problem find relief.
ROBOT REHAB FOR STROKE
A new robot is helping stroke patients recover without a therapist.
STEM CELLS HEAL HEARTS
Donor stem cells may be the answer for patients who suffer a heart attack.
BREATHING WITH EMPHYSEMA
A new, nonsurgical procedure could help patients breathe more easily.
DOPPLER PREDICTS STROKE
The same technology used to forecast a storm is helping doctors understand strokes and migraines.
BETTER BYPASS SURGERY
Cutting-edge technology allows doctors to fix a coronary bypass operation while the patient is still in surgery.
BETTER KIDNEY TRANSPLANT TREATMENT
A new treatment could reduce the risk of rejection within six months of a transplant.
WRAPPING RADIATION AROUND TUMORS
New technology allows doctors to target tumors with better precision.
CUTTING-EDGE SURGERY EDUCATION
Huge monitors and microscopic cameras are making it easier for surgeons to teach residents complicated procedures.
LUNG CANCER VACCINE
A vaccine under study offers hope for some patients who are diagnosed with this deadly cancer.
EASIER COLON CANCER TEST
A blood test may be the future in screening for colon cancer.
STEM CELLS FIGHT LUPUS
Using a patient's own stem cells could provide a cure for this devastating disease.
NEW SINUS RELIEF WITH A BALLOON
A new technique pushes sinus blockages out of the way and results in less pain.
HUNTINGTON'S HELP
A drug already approved in Europe and Canada could offer hope to patients who are plagued by this disease.
INHALED CHEMO
A new twist on standard chemotherapy offers less side effects and better precision.
STRENGTHENING BRITTLE BONES
A drug to treat osteoporosis is helping patients with a disease that weakens their bones.
BIRD FLU: BE PREPARED
Find out what you can do to prepare for the flu that experts think will hit the states in the coming months.
|
Send email to news@wchstv.com for information or comments concerning WCHS-TV Eyewitness News.
