Photodynamic Therapy in Treating Patients With Skin Cancer or Solid Tumors Metastatic to the Skin

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed tumor for which no potential curative therapy exists (e.g., surgery, radiotherapy, or systemic chemotherapy) * The following tumor types are eligible: * Cutaneous nodular metastatic breast carcinoma lesion with loco-regional cutaneous, soft tissue, or chest wall involvement * No chest wall recurrence without prior radiotherapy * Other metastatic sites allowed provided patient is concurrently receiving hormonal therapy or trastuzumab (Herceptin) of at least 4 weeks duration * Cutaneous or superficial subcutaneous nodular metastatic head and neck lesion * Cutaneous nodular Kaposi's sarcoma lesion * Stage IA-IIB or IVA cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) * CTCL patches, plaques, or tumors with a surface area of up to 25 cm\^2 if other areas of involved skin are blocked from therapy * Squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma of the skin that is not eligible for standard therapy (e.g., cryosurgery, radiotherapy, electrodesiccation and curettage, or excision) * Cutaneous and subcutaneous metastasis from any solid tumor (e.g., thoracic, gastrointestinal, or genitourinary cancers or sarcomas) * Bidimensionally measurable disease * No more than 2 lesions may be treated * No single area greater than 36 cm\^2 may be treated (maximum of 25 cm\^2 tumor mass with a 1 cm margin) * Tumor treatable by surface (non-contact) light illumination * Skin type I-III * No tumors of the eyelids * Hormone receptor status: * Not specified PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 18 and over Sex: * Male or female Menopausal status: * Not specified Performance status: * ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: * Not specified Hematopoietic: * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm\^3 * Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm\^3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL * AST/ALT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 2 times ULN * No history of hepatic cirrhosis * No hepatic disease requiring therapy Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL OR * Creatinine clearance at least 50 mL/min * No renal disease requiring therapy Cardiovascular: * No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months * No significant congestive heart failure requiring therapy * No peripheral vascular disease Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception * Antinuclear antibody negative * No sepsis * No prior allergic or hypersensitivity reaction to paclitaxel vehicle * No known photosensitivity diseases such as porphyria, systemic lupus erythematosus, xeroderma pigmentosum, or polymorphous light eruption * No symptomatic collagen vascular disease * Insulin-dependent or adult-onset diabetes mellitus allowed provided there are no lower extremity lesions PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy * No concurrent immunotherapy Chemotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * At least 4 weeks since prior systemic chemotherapy * No concurrent chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: * See Disease Characteristics * No concurrent corticosteroids Radiotherapy: * See Disease Characteristics * More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy * More than 4 weeks since prior ultraviolet B light therapy or psoralen-ultraviolet light therapy to non-study lesions/areas * No concurrent radiotherapy Surgery: * See Disease Characteristics Other: * At least 5 days since prior warfarin * At least 4 weeks since prior investigational drugs * At least 4 weeks since prior local therapy to study lesions * At least 6 months since prior photodynamic therapy * No concurrent aspirin, aspirin-containing medications, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., ibuprofen, indomethacin, or cyclo-oxygenase \[COX\]-1 and COX-2 inhibitors) * No other concurrent photosensitizing medications such as tetracyclines, psoralens, nalidixic acid, griseofulvin, sulfa drugs, hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, phenothiazines, or amiodarone * No concurrent therapeutic dosages of warfarin (non-therapeutic dosages allowed)