Photobiomodulation therapy reduces oral mucositis in cancer patients

Mouth sores from cancer therapy can be brutal, making it hard to eat, talk, or even think. A new review of 329 cancer patients getting chemotherapy or radiation found that photobiomodulation therapy, a type of light treatment, is highly effective at managing these sores. The analysis showed it significantly reduces how often they happen and how severe they get. This matters for patients who often stop treatment because of the pain. The review also suggests this therapy can improve quality of life and help people stick with their cancer treatment. The evidence comes from pooling data from several randomized clinical trials. However, the light therapy protocols varied between studies, using different wavelengths and application times. The findings show an association, not direct proof that the therapy causes the improvement. Still, the overall evidence is considered strong and from recent trials with low risk of bias.