How Red Light Therapy Is Revolutionizing Cancer Support - Relief for Oral Mucositis
What If a Gentle Light Could Ease One of Cancer Treatment’s Most Painful Side Effects?
If you or someone you love is going through cancer treatment, you’ve probably heard of or experienced firsthand, the intense pain of oral mucositis. It’s that deep, painful inflammation and ulceration of the mouth that can make even sipping water feel like swallowing glass. But finally there’s some good news: there's a powerful, drug-free way to reduce this pain before it even starts, and it’s not just a ‘maybe’ anymore. It's called Photobiomodulation therapy (PBM), and it's already being called a new gold standard in cancer support care.
And there’s even more to celebrate: Red light therapy has officially been approved in the U.S. as a preventive treatment for oral mucositis and will be covered by insurance starting in 2026. But if you’re in the thick of treatment or supporting a loved one through it, you’ll want to keep reading.
What Is Oral Mucositis - and Why Does It Hurt So Much?
Oral mucositis (OM) is a common and extremely painful side effect of chemotherapy and radiation and stem cell treatments. We're talking open sores, intense pain, trouble eating, talking, or even swallowing. In some cases, patients end up hospitalized or have to pause cancer treatment entirely.
And here's the kicker: up to 80% of pediatric patients and around 50% of adult patients receiving cancer therapy develop OM, especially with medications like methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil.
Traditional Treatments: Rinses, Pain Meds... and a Lot of Waiting
If you’re wondering how OM is typically treated, the answer might frustrate you: not very well.. especially in young children. Standard care includes:
Magic mouthwash (a cocktail of numbing agents, antihistamines, and antacids)
Strong pain meds, including opioids
Cryotherapy (yes, sucking on ice chips)
Antifungal/antibiotic support if infection sets in
Nutritional support, sometimes with a PEG becomes necessary.
But these mostly address symptoms, not prevention or healing.
Why Typical Treatments Don’t Go Far Enough for Kids
If your child is going through cancer treatment, you already know how heartbreaking it is to see them in pain. The usual go-to solutions for oral mucositis, like numbing rinses or pain meds often just aren’t enough for little ones. Little ones can’t always describe how much it hurts, and many can’t (or won’t) swish and spit mouthwashes. Strong pain meds aren’t always an option due to side effects, and the pain can make eating or even talking unbearable, sometimes leading to weight loss, dehydration, or the need for a feeding tube. That kind of pain can create long-term fear around food or brushing teeth. This is why photobiomodulation (PBM) is so important. It’s painless, quick, and helps prevent mouth sores from ever forming, giving kids a gentler path through treatment, and giving parents one less thing to worry about
WHO - Oral Mucositis Scale
Enter PBM: A New Way to Support Healing
Photobiomodulation (PBM) uses gentle red and near-infrared light to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and stimulate tissue repair. Think of it as charging up your body’s healing power at the cellular level.
And the results? Truly stunning.
Multiple systematic reviews and clinical trials have shown that PBM can dramatically reduce both the incidence and severity of oral mucositis in patients receiving cancer therapy. I watched a recent interview of twin adult men who both experienced the same cancer - 10 years apart. The twin who had access to red light therapy barely needed a Panadol (over the counter mild pain medication) while his brother experienced significant pain and distress during his treatment.
Photobiomodulation/LLLT has been shown to:
✅ Lower the risk of developing mucositis from about 60% to less than 10%
✅ Shorten the duration and intensity of mouth sores
✅ Decrease the need for pain medication
✅ Improve the ability to eat, speak, and maintain nutrition
Without any adverse effects.
In a 2025 randomized clinical trial involving children with leukemia, PBM reduced OM from 66.67% to just 6.67% when used preventively.
From Emerging Therapy to International Standard of Care
The evidence is so strong that international guidelines from the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) and the International Society of Oral Oncology (ISOO), NICE Guidelines (UK) and the ADA now recommend PBM as the standard of care for preventing oral mucositis.
In the UK, PBM is already routine in many cancer centers. And in the U.S., PBM is now recognized by the ADA for OM prevention, with insurance coverage beginning in 2026. That means more patients will have access to this safe, side-effect-free support.
Pediatric cancer patient using PBM on the outer cheek - scroll to the bottom to watch the full video.
Why Hasn’t My Oncologist Mentioned PBM?
You might be wondering, “If PBM is so effective, why hasn’t my doctor told me about it?” Great question—and the answer isn’t what you might think. Oncologists are superheroes, but even superheroes can’t keep up with every emerging therapy. Photobiomodulation (PBM) has historically flown under the radar for a few reasons:
1. It Wasn’t Covered by Insurance - Until Now
Up until recently, PBM was often considered an 'out-of-pocket' therapy. That meant many hospitals didn’t invest in the equipment or training because patients couldn’t afford it, and insurers weren’t paying for it. But that’s changing: PBM will be covered by insurance in the U.S. starting in 2026, which means more clinics will begin offering it as part of standard care.
2. It's a Different Kind of Therapy
PBM isn’t a drug, a surgery, or a radiation technique - it’s a light-based therapy. Because it falls outside the traditional pharmaceutical toolbox, many oncologists simply haven’t been exposed to the research or protocols unless they actively seek them out.
3. It’s Gaining Momentum - Fast
PBM is already widely used in countries like the UK and across Europe. And now that it’s included in international cancer care guidelines, more U.S. cancer centers are beginning to adopt it. But like any shift in medicine, it takes time for awareness to spread and protocols to catch up.
What This Means for You (or Someone You Love)
Whether you're navigating cancer treatment yourself or walking alongside someone who is, PBM offers a powerful, evidence-backed way to reduce suffering and support healing, before painful mouth sores even begin.
So if your oncology team hasn’t mentioned PBM yet, bring it up. Print this blog. Share the studies. Ask if PBM is available in your treatment center - or if there’s a clinic nearby that offers it. Most oncologists are receptive to evidence-based and safe supportive therapies, but they may not be aware of their existence yet.
A Cancer Diagnosis is Hard Enough..
You deserve proactive care. Care that reduces suffering, supports healing, and lets you focus on the fight ahead, not just enduring the fallout of available cancer treatments. Red light therapy is one of those rare breakthroughs that’s evidence-based, accessible, and safe for everyone - from young children to older adults.
And with insurance coverage starting in 2026, we’re entering a new era where comfort and healing don’t have to come with extra financial stress.
If you’re curious about whether PBM is right for you or your loved one, or you want to know how to access it, let’s talk. I’m here to guide you toward options that are grounded in science, steeped in compassion, and built for real-life healing.
If you’re based in the Central Texas area and will be starting cancer treatments soon, contact my clinic for more information.
Tracy
Resources:
VIDEO of UK use of PBM in pediatrics.
Oncology Nurse shares her experiences in Pittsburgh
Low-level laser therapy for preventing or treating oral mucositis caused by radiotherapy or chemotherapy - Interventional procedures guidance. Reference number:IPG615. Published: 23 May 2018 (NICE Guidelines UK).
Zadik Y, Arany PR, Fregnani ER, Bossi P, Antunes HS, Bensadoun RJ, et al.
Systematic review of photobiomodulation for the management of oral mucositis in cancer patients and clinical practice guidelines. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2019;27(10):3969-3983.
Miranda-Silva W, Gomes-Silva W, Zadik Y, et al.
MASCC/ISOO clinical practice guidelines for the management of mucositis: sub-analysis of current interventions for the management of oral mucositis in pediatric cancer patients. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2021;29(7):3539-3562.
Robijns J, Nair RG, Lodewijckx J, et al.
Photobiomodulation therapy in management of cancer therapy-induced side effects: WALT position paper 2022. Frontiers in Oncology. 2022;12:927685.
Arany PR.
Photobiomodulation therapy. Journal of Functional and Structural Craniofacial Imaging. 2025;7:100045.
Lavaee F, Rezazadeh F, Amanati A, Sookhakian A, Amiri MA, Dehghani N, Fereidouni K.
Efficacy of photobiomodulation for the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis in pediatric patients with hematologic cancers: a randomized clinical trial. BMC Cancer. 2025;25:825.
Wang Q, Oh PS, Jeong HJ.
From molecular mechanisms to clinical applications: A comprehensive review of photobiomodulation in cancer treatment. Cancer Photobiology. 2025. (In press)
