Photopheresis (also called photoimmune therapy or extracorporeal photopheresis) treats cutaneous cancer in two ways. It directly attacks cells and increases the body's immune system response against them. Blood is removed from the body and put into a special machine that separates the lymphocytes from the rest of the blood. After being treated with PUVA (see above), the lymphocytes are mixed back in with the rest of the blood, which is infused back into the patient. Treatments are usually given two days in a row, with each procedure generally lasting a few hours. Treatments are typically repeated every four weeks.
Nondiscrimination Policy Update
Boston Medical Center Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency and primary language), religion, culture, physical or mental disabilities, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity and/or expression. BMCHS provides free aids and services to people with disabilities and free language services to people whose primary language is not English.
To read our full Nondiscrimination Statement, click here.