Can laser therapy cause cancer?
Low Intensity Laser Therapy is very safe because it generally utilizes wavelengths above 632 nm. Therefore the laser beam is not producing ionizing radiation (which can cause cancer) like X-rays, Gamma rays etc. It is even safer than ordinary sunlight. Sunlight contains cancer causing wavelengths (below 320 nm) such as ultra violet light.
The short answer to this is no! No mutational effects have been observed resulting from light with wavelengths in the red or infra-red range in doses used within laser therapy. (Tuner and Hode, Laser Therapy: Clinical Practice and Scientific Background, 2002) There is no evidence at this time to indicate that laser treatment will either harm or benefit patients with malignancies. Thus, if there is already a tumor present, laser therapy will not enhance the growth of the tumor. It is believed that the local immune response caused by laser therapy equals or exceeds the stimulation of tumor growth, counteracting all mutational effects. In addition, there is currently a lot of research being conducted on using lasers in treating certain cancers by a process known as Photodynamic Therapy (PDT).
Professor G. David Baxter from the University of Ulster states that ” it can be seen that the BioFlex treatment units represent a quantum advance in the design of laser therapy units; for this reason they may be truly regarded as fourth generation devices.” 17) What are the side effects associated with BioFlex? Unlike many pharmaceutical options, BioFlex is non toxic; unlike surgical procedures, it is non-traumatic and most important, BioFlex is non-invasive. There is a warming sensation reported by some patients; still others report mild discomfort following treatment, however this is very rare, occurring with less then 5% of our patients. 18) What are the Contraindications and Precautions? • Eye Exposure: Class IIIb lasers are potentially harmful to the retina, though accidental retinal damage is unlikely. Direct eye exposure should be avoided. Not used for eye disorders. BioFlex technology can only be enabled when proper skin on skin contact is achieved. • Pregnancy: Do not use Low
Laser Therapy is very safe because it generally utilizes wavelengths above 632 nm. Therefore the laser beam is not producing ionizing radiation (which can cause cancer) like X-rays, Gamma rays etc. It is even safer then ordinary sunlight. Sunlight contains cancer causing wavelengths (below 320 nm) e.g. ultra violet.
