For many cancer patients, radiation or chemotherapy can cause side effects ranging from pain to inflammation and additional stressors can make navigating treatment difficult emotionally and physically. Red light therapy, also known as low-level laser therapy or photobiomodulation, has shown promise as an additional therapy for symptom management.
If your care team has recommended red light therapy as part of your treatment regimen, it’s important to understand the possible benefits. Keep reading to learn more about red light therapy and how it could support your overall cancer care.
What is red light therapy?
Red light therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses low levels of red LED (light-emitting diode) and wavelengths to stimulate cells. The red light has the power to travel beneath your skin where it can help target the mitochondria (the energy source for your cells) and potentially improve overall cell function. This can help reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and boost circulation. The heat that emanates from the light doesn’t use damaging ultraviolet rays, so it shouldn’t hurt or burn your skin. It is a therapy that should always be done by a physician to lessen any risk of blistering or unwelcome redness to your skin.
How can red light therapy help during cancer treatment?
Red light therapy can help combat the side effects of those undergoing chemotherapy. For some types of cancer, red light therapy may be integrated into treatment plans.
Red light therapy has also been recommended for cancer patients suffering from mouth sores. Also known as oral mucositis, mouth sores sometimes occur during chemotherapy or radiation treatments, causing pain and leading to an increased risk of infection. According to the most recent guidelines*, light therapy can be used to prevent mouth sores in patients with head and neck cancer going through radiation, both with and without chemotherapy.
According to research by the NIH (National Library of Medicine), light therapy has shown positive effects for breast cancer survivors suffering from fatigue and sleep disruption after completing chemotherapy or radiation treatment. More than a third of cancer survivors reported experience with these symptoms, with many reporting a decreased quality of life during survivorship. For them, red light therapy contributed to maintaining an overall better quality of life – physically, mentally, and spiritually – much like people who suffer from insomnia, jet lag, or seasonal affective disorder and choose to pursue regular use of red light therapy to feel better in their everyday lives.
Will red light therapy help to manage my pain?
Whether you’re going through cancer treatment or not, red light therapy has the potential to help with pain management. By stimulating cell production, the therapy can reduce inflammation, improve your blood circulation, and also potentially release endorphins that can combat your pain and make you feel better.
Light therapy should always be performed by a member of your extended oncology team, or by a certified clinician who’s working in tandem with your care team. So, if you’re interested in pursuing red light therapy as part of your ongoing cancer care plans, make sure you talk to your team first.
This is not medical guidance. Always consult with your medical provider for any specific questions about your own health. For general cancer-related queries, connect with an Outcomes4Me oncology nurse practitioner at no charge through the Outcomes4Me app, using the “Ask Outcomes4Me” button.
*Mucositis Guidelines Leadership Group of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer and International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO)
