Photodynamic Therapy

Hello My Friends, I would like to share some news with you, of a relatively unknown treatment for lung mets that has proven to be very successful for me.... (Emphasis on FOR ME; this may not be appropriate for all patients with lung mets.)

 I was diagnosed with ULMS in 2006, and was able to enjoy 10 years NED following surgery, chemo, and radiation. Unfortunately, several lung mets popped up in 2016, too numerous and widespread to be operable, so back to chemo we did go. Several years of chemo and an estrogen blocker managed to keep the largest lung mets stable; however, I began to have difficulty breathing in 2020. My CT showed that the tumors had caused narrowing of the pulmonary arteries and bronchus, resulting in a collapsed lung. I started radiation treatments in May of 2020, and thankfully, the collapsed lung resolved and I was able to breathe somewhat better.

My beloved sarcoma specialist, Dr. Gina D'Amato, then referred me to a Pulmonary Critical Care Specialist in Atlanta to see if further improvement could be achieved. I had a telehealth conference with Dr. Venkatesh Lakshminarayanan, who immediately saw me as a good candidate for photodynamic therapy. This is a procedure in which a photosensitive drug is combined with a specific type of light to kill cancer cells. It's done by way of bronchoscopy, and is particularly effective when cancer is blocking or pushing against the bronchial airways. For me, the process was conducted on an inpatient basis due to my distance from the hospital. In October of 2020, I went in as an outpatient on Friday for infusion of the photofrin and went home (covered from head to toe due to the light sensitivity) until Monday, when I was admitted for the first of 3 bronchoscopy procedures. By Saturday, I was ready to go home, with nothing but a little cough and sore throat. Still covered from head to toe, though, the light sensitivity lasts for a few weeks.

The first CT shortly after discharge showed that all cancer cells within the bronchi had been eliminated. Great news, but even better news was to follow on the next CT 3 months later. All of the tumors had shrunk significantly, the largest by almost 30%! And, as an added "perk", this is a procedure that can be repeated as many times as needed and desired, with proper spacing in between.

I'm sharing this information just in case someone here might also be a good candidate for photodynamic therapy. Ask your doctor! Unfortunately, it isn't widely performed so you may need to travel if you and your doctor decide to go for it. Here is the information provided by the American Cancer Society.

https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/6707.00.pdf

Blessings and hope to you, my brothers and sisters. Sending best wishes and love to all.

Lea