Light Therapy Interventions for Cancer-Related Fatigue
Summary
Cancer-related fatigue is among the most pervasive and debilitating sequelae of oncology treatment, affecting quality of life, daily functioning and psychological well-being. Traditional management strategies have included pharmacological agents, exercise programmes and psychosocial support; however, these approaches often yield only modest benefits. Light therapy is emerging as a low-burden, non-invasive intervention that targets dysregulation of the circadian system, which is frequently implicated in the pathogenesis of persistent fatigue. By delivering controlled exposure to high-intensity light—typically in the early morning—this intervention aims to reinforce the natural day–night cycle, improve sleep quality, stabilise hormone secretion and enhance daytime alertness. Clinical protocols vary in spectral composition, duration and timing, yet converge on the principle that optimised light exposure can recalibrate biological rhythms, reduce subjective tiredness and bolster functional capacity in individuals recovering from or living with cancer.
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Light Therapy Interventions for Cancer-Related Fatigue publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in light therapy interventions for cancer-related fatigue across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Cancer-related fatigue: A persistent, distressing sense of physical, emotional and cognitive tiredness or exhaustion related to cancer or its treatment, not proportional to recent activity.
Circadian rhythm: The roughly 24-hour cycle of physiological and behavioural processes governed by internal biological clocks and influenced by external cues such as light.
Bright white light therapy: Therapeutic exposure to high-intensity, broad-spectrum white light intended to synchronise circadian rhythms and improve alertness.
Actigraphy: A non-invasive method of monitoring sleep–wake patterns and rest–activity cycles via a wrist-worn accelerometer.
N-of-1 trial: A single-patient, crossover design in which interventions are compared within the same individual to determine personalised treatment effects.
References
- Preventing Sleep Disruption With Bright Light Therapy During Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: A Phase II Randomized Controlled Trial. Frontiers in Neuroscience (2022).
- The effect of light therapy on sleep quality in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in Psychiatry (2023).
- A Series of Personalized Virtual Light Therapy Interventions for Fatigue: Feasibility Randomized Crossover Trial for N-of-1 Treatment. JMIR Formative Research (2023).
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