Virtual Reality (VR) for Cancer Pain Relief
What is Virtual reality (VR)?
Virtual reality (VR) refers to a computer-generated, three-dimensional virtual environment that users can interact with, typically accessed via a computer that is capable of projecting 3D information via a display, which can be isolated screens or a wearable display, e.g., a head-mounted display (HMD), along with user identification sensors.
VR can mainly be divided into two categories: non-immersive, and immersive. Non-immersive VR utilizes a combination of screens surrounding the user to present virtual information. A typical example of this is driving or flight simulations in which the user sits in a chair with multiple screens around them, giving them the feeling of being in the cockpit or driver’s seat without being fully immersed.
Immersive VR refers to using a wearable display, e.g., HMD, to track a user’s movement and present the VR information based on the position of users, which allows them to experience 360 degrees of the virtual environment. This immersive experience is what most people think of when it comes to VR and is one of the most marketable aspects of VR technology. (Source)
VR and pain relief for cancer patients
This 2023 Umbrella Review looked at hundreds of studies
involving 17,680 patients. Here are a few excerpts:
VR in cancer pain management
VR demonstrated reduced pain and anxiety in adult cancer survivors
VR in breast cancer
A range of VR-based interventions improved various symptoms in breast cancer patients, such as anxiety, depression, pain, cognitive function, and upper limb movement, but not fatigue. With advancements in technological fields, VR methods are expected to become more commonly used and evolve. Several countries have already initiated adapting legislation and policy to support virtual reality technology and accelerate its integration into medical and healthcare practices
Conclusion
VR showed its efficacy for managing various pain conditions including acute pain during procedures and surgery-related pain…
Colorectal cancer
This study says:
VR may be particularly useful for advanced colorectal cancer patients endorsing persistent pain because it can impact cognitive pathways by decreasing pain catastrophizing and increasing pain self-efficacy to improve pain control and moderate pain signaling (Loreto-Quijada et al., 2014).
Hospitalised cancer patients
This 2024 study involving a total of 128 adult hospitalized patients with cancer concluded:
Among hospitalized adult patients with moderate-severe pain related to cancer and cancer therapies, VR provided more nonpharmacologic pain relief than active control and this benefit sustained long after conclusion of the intervention.
How can I access VR?
Tripp Meditation App.
It is available across VR, AR and mobile devices including Meta Quest, Apple Vision Pro, HTC Vive Flow, Pico 3 & 4, PSVR 2, PSVR and Rift/Rift S, iOS and Android.
Available at Tripp.com
ShineVR
ShineVR is an immersive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) platform. You can apply for early access at shine-vr.com