Virtual Reality Complementary Therapy and Breast Cancer Recovery: A Brief Update

Abstract

This update reviewed the effects of VR complementary therapy in breast cancer patients regarding physical symptoms such as the common triad of pain, lymphedema and upper limb impairment following treatment. The results revealed weak but consistently positive, significant effect in physical symptoms. Findings, however, were limited by poor methodological quality, small sample sizes and low statistical power in studies. Future recommendations include better designed studies with large sample sizes and acceptable power to investigate the effects of VR interventions in women with breast cancer, during and after cancer treatment.