Laser therapy has become an increasingly important component of cancer treatment. It is effective on its own, and it can be combined with other treatments for even greater effect. While laser cancer treatment is not without its limitations, the benefits of laser therapy far outweigh its disadvantages. Learn more about the advantages of laser therapy below.
What is Laser Therapy?
“Laser” actually stands for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.” Simply put, it’s a type of high-intensity light that is focused into a narrow beam. This light energy can penetrate tissues with remarkable precision which makes it valuable in medical applications. Laser light has a specific wavelength, creating a powerful beam that can potentially cut steel or even diamonds (depending on the type of laser used).
However, how deep the incision is will depend on the different types of lasers used. For example, laser treatment for skin cancer uses multiple types, including CO2 or carbon dioxide laser commonly used in Class IV laser therapy. This can approximately cut 2mm, which is impossible to achieve when using a scalpel.
How does laser therapy work? Well, for cancer, a surgical laser is used to cut tumors and destroy cancer cells. Therapeutic laser treatments for cancer focus on precise, controlled applications. Laser surgery is most often applied to superficial cancers, including:
- Basal cell skin cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Vaginal cancer
- Vulvar cancer
- Penile cancer
- Non-small cell lung cancer
Lasers can also be used for laser-induced interstitial thermotherapy (LITT), which is a form of hyperthermia therapy. These treatments broadly involve heating cancerous tissue to a high temperature. Cancer cells are unable to survive heat. Lasers can be used to heat cancer cells, which kills them and shrinks tumors.
Another therapeutic application is MLS laser therapy, which treats damaged tissue and encourages faster healing. Lasers may also be used for photodynamic therapy (PDT). This form of treatment starts with a drug known as a photosensitizer or photosensitizing agent. This drug is absorbed by your body’s cells, but after a few days, it collects mostly in cancer cells. A laser light activates the drug, destroying cancer cells in the process.
5 Benefits of Laser Therapy
So, what are the benefits of laser therapy? Laser therapy offers some unique benefits over other forms of treatment.
1. Precision
Lasers are naturally focused on an extremely narrow beam. That means that lasers are characteristically more precise and exact than scalpels and other standard surgical tools. The tissue near a laser incision or during LITT or PDT remains almost entirely unaffected.
Laser skin resurfacing and other treatments allow practitioners to target tumors and damaged tissue without affecting healthy areas. It minimizes the impact on deep tissue and surrounding organs.
2. Quicker Recovery
As laser therapy is so precise and does not cause damage to healthy tissues, there is naturally less pain, bleeding, swelling, inflammation, and scarring. Recovery periods are much shorter, while the healing process is faster. The heat from lasers seals blood vessels, which also prevents the risk of bleeding and can help to sterilize parts of body tissue. This faster healing process is essential for patient comfort and reduces the time needed for post-treatment pain management.
3. Optimal Surgery
The actual surgical procedure for laser therapy is much shorter and faster than other forms of treatment. Laser therapy treatment can be easily done on an outpatient basis, in a doctor’s office, with minimal anesthetic.
Laser therapy is generally minimally invasive or non-invasive. An endoscope can be easily inserted through a small incision. In addition, therapeutic laser treatments can promote tissue repair and even help in pain management for patients dealing with post-surgery effects.
4. Combined with Other Treatments
Laser therapy can be used on its own, but it is more often combined with other forms of treatment, including standard surgery, chemotherapy, physical therapy, and radiation therapy. This can increase the effectiveness of the treatment and help to destroy cancer cells more thoroughly.
5. Other Cancer-Related Applications
Along with its potential to directly treat cancer, laser therapy treatment can provide other cancer-related applications. Lasers can be used to seal nerve endings following the surgery, which help provide pain relief and provide comfort to the patient.
For example, low-level laser therapy (LLLT), or cold laser therapy, is often used to reduce lymphedema (a side effect of breast cancer surgery that results in swelling of the arms). Lasers are used to seal lymph vessels, which promote decreased inflammation and prevent the spread of tumor cells.
Is Laser Therapy Right for You?
With its impressive precision, faster healing, and unique ability to preserve surrounding tissues, laser therapy is a powerful option for cancer patients and those needing effective, minimally invasive treatments. As research and laser therapy technology progress, new applications continue to enhance the effectiveness and advantages of laser therapy.
If you’re interested in learning more about laser therapy and how it can benefit your treatment journey, the Immunity Therapy Center offers cutting-edge laser therapies and a compassionate team ready to guide you. Contact us to discuss how our therapeutic laser solutions can be a part of your personalized care plan and provide renewed hope for healing.
Written By: Dr. Adolfo Carrillo
Dr. Adolfo Carrillo is a Board Certified Medical Doctor from Universidad Autónoma de Baja California.
Dr. Carrillo has been collaborating with Dr. Bautista for over 5 years as a treating physician at the Immunity the Immunity Therapy Center. Dr. Carrillo is a charismatic Doctor whose knowledge and commitment to patient care and bringing healing to patients is a valuable asset to our center.
Sources:
- National Cancer Institute. Lasers to Treat Cancer. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/surgery/lasers-fact-sheet
- American Cancer Society. How Lasers Are Used to Treat Cancer. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/lasers-in-cancer-treatment.htmlCambridge Media. Managing lymphoedema: low level laser therapy. https://journals.cambridgemedia.com.au/wpr/volume-24-number-2/evidence-summary-managing-lymphoedema-low-level-laser-therapy
At Immunity Therapy Center, our goal is to provide objective, updated, and research-based information on all health-related topics. This article is based on scientific research and/or other scientific articles. All information has been fact-checked and reviewed by Dr. Carlos Bautista, a Board Certified Medical Doctor at Immunity Therapy Center. All information published on the site must undergo an extensive review process to ensure accuracy. This article contains trusted sources with all references hyperlinked for the reader's visibility.