Virtual Reality May Help Ease Cancer Pain and Anxiety
Patients with cancer may find relief from symptoms using immersive virtual reality, according to a recent review.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Cancer
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Would you consider using virtual reality as a supplement to manage your pain or anxiety?
A recent meta-analysis of 13 randomized trials involving 969 patients found that virtual reality may help reduce cancer-related pain and anxiety. These findings offer a potential non-pharmacological tool for patients to manage symptom distress during their cancer journey.
Why it matters
Managing pain and anxiety is a critical aspect of cancer care, as these symptoms frequently complicate treatment and reduce quality of life. This review highlights how immersive technology might serve as a supportive tool alongside traditional medical care.
This meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials involving 969 patients identified a standardized mean difference of -0.76 for pain reduction and -1.53 for anxiety reduction. Researchers categorized the certainty of these findings as low under the GRADE framework.
The players
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
The federal agency that administers the Medicare program and established a specific billing code for prescription virtual reality systems in 2023.
The details
Virtual reality works by creating an immersive environment that shifts a patient's cognitive focus away from their symptoms or medical procedures. The trials included in this review utilized both headset-based immersive systems and screen-based platforms like the Xbox Kinect. Sessions varied in length, ranging from 3 to 45 minutes, to test the efficacy of different delivery methods in clinical settings.
Timeline
2002-2024: The period during which the 13 trials included in the analysis were published.
2023: The year the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services established a specific billing code for the RelieVRx prescription system.
Health Landscape
Virtual reality is increasingly being explored as a non-pharmacological intervention within the digital therapeutics market. This study aligns with the broader push to integrate evidence-based digital tools like the RelieVRx prescription VR system into standard oncological symptom management.
Patients dealing with pain or anxiety should consider discussing virtual reality options with their oncology care team to determine if such tools are available. Because the current evidence is preliminary and limited by low certainty, it is important to treat these as supportive, not curative.
The takeaway
Virtual reality may help lower stress and physical discomfort for cancer patients by providing an immersive distraction. Speak with your physician about whether supportive digital tools could be incorporated into your current pain or anxiety management plan.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest Cancer research and supportive care strategies.
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Would you consider using virtual reality as a supplement to manage your pain or anxiety?
