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The use of low-level light therapy in supportive care for patients with breast cancer: review of the literature.

Lasers in medical science
January 1, 2017
Jolien Robijns et al. (5 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of low-level light therapy (LLLT) in managing treatment-related side effects in breast cancer patients.

Results Summary

The review found that LLLT is a promising option for managing side effects such as oral mucositis, radiodermatitis, lymphedema, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, and osteonecrosis of the jaw. However, optimal treatment parameters need further definition to ensure effectiveness.

Population

Breast cancer patients experiencing treatment-related side effects.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (7)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Low-level light therapy (LLLT)
increase
general medicine
-
more than 40 years
has proven its efficiency
#1
Low-level light therapy (LLLT)
increase
wound healing
-
-
used to stimulate
#2
Low-level light therapy (LLLT)
decrease
inflammation
-
-
reduce
#3
Low-level light therapy (LLLT)
decrease
edema
-
-
reduce
#4
Low-level light therapy (LLLT)
decrease
pain
-
-
reduce
#5
Low-level light therapy (LLLT)
increase
supportive care for breast cancer
-
since the last twenty years
is becoming a new treatment modality
#6
Low-level light therapy (LLLT)
decrease
breast cancer treatment-related side effects
breast cancer patients
-
suggest that LLLT is a promising option for the management
#7
Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, with an incidence of 1.7 million in 2012. Breast cancer and its treatments can bring along serious side effects such as fatigue, skin toxicity, lymphedema, pain, nausea, etc. These can substantially affect the patients' quality of life. Therefore, supportive care for breast cancer patients is an essential mainstay in the treatment. Low-level light therapy (LLLT) also named photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has proven its efficiency in general medicine for already more than 40 years. It is a noninvasive treatment option used to stimulate wound healing and reduce inflammation, edema, and pain. LLLT is used in different medical settings ranging from dermatology, physiotherapy, and neurology to dentistry. Since the last twenty years, LLLT is becoming a new treatment modality in supportive care for breast cancer. For this review, all existing literature concerning the use of LLLT for breast cancer was used to provide evidence in the following domains: oral mucositis (OM), radiodermatitis (RD), lymphedema, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), and osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). The findings of this review suggest that LLLT is a promising option for the management of breast cancer treatment-related side effects. However, it still remains important to define appropriate treatment and irradiation parameters for each condition in order to ensure the effectiveness of LLLT.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Breast NeoplasmsClinical Trials as TopicFemaleHumansLow-Level Light TherapyLymphedemaRadiodermatitisStomatitis
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety85
Efficacy75/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations49
Citations/Year6.1
Relative Citation Ratio2.79
NIH Percentile83.4%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.12
Normalized Score0.80
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