Testimonials
PDT Patient Testimonial - Pamela Shields, 72 years old.
Pamela was first diagnosed with skin cancer some 20 years ago. Since then Pamela has had a number of skin cancers removed from her nose, neck and face.
Pamela has no family history of skin cancer, but did spend a lot of time in the sun with no protection as a child.
“I was the youngest of four children. We were all raised in the same way and all spent lots of time at the beach, however I am the only one to have had any skin cancer problems. Neither of my parents had problems either.”
Pamela had undergone a variety of treatments to treat her skin cancer over the years; these treatments have included cryotherapy, excision surgery and topical chemotherapy creams.
“I have had a number of different treatments for skin cancer, but I have been very lucky in that I did not find them to be particularly uncomfortable or to leave any significant scars.”
Pamela had her first PDT treatment for a basal cell carcinoma on her neck at the end of 2003.
“I had my first treatment with PDT around a year ago on a raised, crusty spot on my neck.”
“At the end of the PDT treatment my dermatologist was amazed with the results. There was not a mark there. He struggled to find the place where the treatment was used and had to refer to his clinical notes to pinpoint the spot.”
“The PDT treatment worked very well – the cancer was completely gone. The advantage over some of the treatments that I have had is that PDT left no marks, which is very important for people with skin cancer on their face.”
Twelve months after her therapy with PDT, there is no sign
of the cancer returning on her neck.
PDT Patient Testimonial – Susan Sutton, 56
years old.
Susan was first diagnosed with skin cancer 5-6 years ago. Since then Susan has had between 15 and 20 skin cancers removed from difference parts of her body and has had several skin grafts to repair the damage left from the treatments. Susan has a family history of skin cancer.
“When I was first diagnosed with skin cancer I was quite upset. I hoped that I would be lucky enough to be looked after and not lose my life, but I was also concerned about how invasive the treatment was going to be – you do see people with disfigurement”
Susan has undergone a variety of treatments to treat her skin cancer over the years; these treatments have included cryotherapy, excision surgery and topical chemotherapy creams.
“Cryotherapy was quite painful and resulted in blisters that sometimes got infected. I found that cryotherapy tended to leave red scars behind.”
“I have also had surgery to remove skin cancers. Surgery involves having the cancer cut our under local anaesthetic, which is uncomfortable, and requires stitches. I have also had at least three or four skin grafts as a result. This involves staying in hospital overnight, but you are actually out of action for about six weeks. Grafts get infected quite easily, don’t actually heal completely and leave quite disfiguring marks – of course skin is taken from other places so you’ve got that side to deal with as well”.
Susan is currently being treated for skin cancer on her legs with PDT.
“Unless people experience skin cancer they don’t actually realize how invasive it can be in your life and how ongoing the treatment is.”
“I had my first PDT treatment in February of this year and to date I’ve had about six treatments mainly on different areas of my legs.”
“PDT gives me peace of mind because I know that it is working, which is my major concern. Personally, there hasn’t been any discomfort at all with PDT, I just come and have my treatment, walk away and go home without having to worry about it, which is really a great bonus. The best thing about PDT is that it leaves no scarring whatsoever, which is really fantastic.”
“Choosing PDT over other treatments options is the best decision I’ve made – I just wish that it had come along a lot sooner. I hope that other people will be able to have the PDT treatment without having such invasive surgery or previous treatment that I had.”
PDT Patient Testimonial – Warren Burgess, 64 years old
Warren was first diagnosed with skin cancer 11 years ago. Since then Warren has had around a dozen skin cancers removed from his back, arms and legs. Throughout his life Warren has spent a lot of time in the sun, from sun baking on the beach to outdoor sports such as tennis, golf and fishing. Warren grew up at a time when a deep tan was the fashion.
“We had no thought for UV protection. We did not use sunscreen lotion, in fact the opposite, we used creams to promote tanning.”
Warren has had a mixture of excision surgery and cryotherapy treatments on his back, which luckily, he did not find to be particularly uncomfortable or to leave significant scarring.
“The cryotherapy left white spots that later resolved and the surgery was not a problem – there was slight discomfort as the wounds healed.”
However, Warren’s GP recently diagnosed a basal cell carcinoma on the tip of Warren’s nose and referred him to a consultant dermatologist.
“The skin cancer was on my face so I was keen to get rid of it without surgery. Surgery on my back was not a problem because it was in a fleshy area, but there is very little flesh on your nose – treatment with surgery may have required a skin graft repair.”
“My dermatologist prescribed me a cream called Aldara, but it didn’t work. It looked like I was going to have surgery.”
In the meantime, Warren’s wife happened to see a dermatologist based in Melbourne talking about a new skin cancer treatment called PDT on television. Warren contacted the dermatologist directly, who via Warren’s GP was able to refer Warren to a Sydney-based dermatologist who was using the new treatment.
“I have had two treatments with PDT on my nose and have experienced no discomfort at all during the treatment.”
“I chose PDT because it is non-invasive and provides good cosmetic results, which is important for areas that are very visible. I have been very happy with my treatment and very glad to avoid surgery.”
“I have just had a check up with both my GP and my Dermatologist, both confirm that the BCC on my nose has responded to PDT treatment, and has disappeared. I will have a further check up in nine months.”
“The successful PDT treatment has left no scar at all on my nose, and I am extremely happy with the result
