Can Virtual Reality Improve the Well-being of Oncology Patients?

While cancer treatments are effective, they often come with significant physical and psychological side effects. Nausea, fatigue, anxiety, and depression are common realities for patients, which can affect their quality of life and even the effectiveness of their care. In the face of these challenges, virtual reality is emerging as a promising tool to alleviate these difficulties and make therapeutic journeys less grueling.

Virtual reality involves immersing the user in a simulated three-dimensional environment using a special headset. Once reserved for video games or expensive applications, this technology is now more accessible and easier to use. It can distract patients by immersing them in soothing landscapes, interactive games, or relaxing experiences. For people with cancer, this immersion can reduce stress, anxiety, and even the perception of pain during treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgical procedures.

Children and adolescents, who are particularly sensitive to the psychological aspects of care, benefit greatly from this approach. Studies show that using virtual reality during chemotherapy sessions or lumbar punctures significantly reduces their anxiety and perception of pain. Adults also see their well-being improve thanks to applications designed to support them before, during, or after treatments. For example, explanatory videos in virtual reality help them better understand medical procedures, which reduces apprehension. During chemotherapy sessions, natural landscapes or relaxation exercises in virtual reality help reduce anxiety and fatigue.

Virtual reality also provides support in palliative care, where it helps soothe end-of-life patients by offering virtual escapes to familiar or calming places. It can also facilitate rehabilitation after surgery by making exercises more motivating and less monotonous.

The advantages of this technology are numerous: it is non-invasive, can be used both in hospitals and at home, and has few side effects. Modern headsets are lightweight, easy to use, and some disposable models reduce the risk of infection. However, its adoption remains limited by patients’ lack of familiarity with these tools and the need to develop standardized protocols to maximize its benefits.

Recent research confirms that virtual reality not only improves patient comfort but also their adherence to treatments. As a complement to traditional therapies, it represents a significant advance for more humane and patient-centered care. Its potential is particularly interesting in a context where psychotherapy resources are often insufficient and where medications for side effects can have their own limitations.

As technology advances, virtual reality could become a common element in the therapeutic arsenal against cancer, offering a new way to relieve the physical and emotional suffering of patients.

Documentary Sources / Document Base

Reference Report

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-026-01758-7

Title: OncoVR – Virtual Reality in Oncology for Patient-centered Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Journal: Current Oncology Reports

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Miriam Balzer; Abdelrahman Elsakka; Gijs Luijten; Katrin Schormann; Slobodan Jovic; Monja Gerigk; Laura Mazilescu; Sophia Schmitz; Julius Keyl; Stefan Liszio; Oliver Basu; Beata Maria Goraus; Stefan Kasper; Jens Kleesiek; Behrus Hinrichs-Puladi; Jan Egger