Mercy Hospital in St Louis is home to a treatment center for a rare, commonly misdiagnosed cancer. Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a form of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and affects between 16,000 to 20,000 people across the United States. CTCL causes visible symptoms, as mild as a rash and as severe as a tumor, which may result in a mistaken diagnosis from even the most experienced Dermatologists. This disease produces scaly, itchy, red patches which exhibits similar symptoms to common skin irritations and conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. Due to its difficult detection, a biopsy of the affected area may not show the disease until a patient has had the condition for up to seven years.
This delay in diagnosis requires efficient and active treatment to help improve the patients’ symptoms and comfort. At Mercy Hospital, the cancer center provides a therapy called Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP) which involves the intravenous collection of white blood cells that are then treated with a medicine that is activated by exposure to UVA light. The treated white blood cells are then re-infused into the patient and may help to restore the body’s natural ability to maintain a balanced immune system. During treatment, most patients can sit in a lounge chair or hospital bed and read, watch TV, or relax until the treatment has been completed. The procedure usually takes about one and a half to three hours, depending on the type of instrument used.
This procedure is offered by Therakos™ and uses innovative technology to improve and shorten the treatment experience. ECP is a unique characteristic to the Mercy Cancer Center that offers patients with an unsightly and painful condition a positive outlook towards recovery.
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If you feel you are experiencing symptoms of CTCL or think you might be a candidate for ECP, visit your local Dermatologist for a proper consultation.