Photobiomodulation therapy

What is PBMT?

PBMT uses a low-intensity laser beam aimed at various parts of your mouth, helping to reduce Oral mucositis (OM) which is when the lining of your mouth becomes inflamed – a common side effect of radiotherapy and chemo-radiotherapy treatment for head & neck cancer.

OM can be painful. You may have difficulty swallowing. You may also lose weight. In some cases, you might need to have additional medication, or even a feeding tube, as well as more frequent appointments with your multidisciplinary head & neck team.

How can PBMT help?

PBMT is an effective treatment that can reduce the severity and duration of OM. It’s been used for more than 20 years to help reduce this side-effect in patients with head & neck cancers.

It can help by:

• Encouraging the tissues inside the mouth to heal
• Reducing inflammation and risk of ulcers
• Enabling you to swallow more comfortably

• Reducing pain (so you don’t need to take as much pain relief medicine)
• Making it less likely that you’ll need to be fed via a tube
• Improving your quality of life

How does PBMT work with my radiotherapy treatment?

You’ll receive your first PBMT treatment a couple of hours before your first radiotherapy session. Then around 30 minutes before all other radiotherapy sessions. It’s delivered by specially trained PBMT radiographers and takes approximately 30 minutes. You will be asked to wear goggles to ensure your eyes are protected during each treatment.

We advise that you should avoid alcohol and not smoke throughout the course of your treatment. We also provide access to a dietician to assist you.

Are there any side-effects from PBMT?

PBMT is painless, and there are no known side-effects.