Once it was an incurable disease, mankind also discovered a cure for it over a period of time. Even though the treatment offers you the possibility of a new life, it is also painful. Chemotherapy aids in the painful process of removing the cancerous cell from your body.
Virtual Reality is a tool that is being widely used for anxiety reduction in cancer treatment chemotherapy, where a patient need love care and support.
According to an old report, Chemo has prevented cancer development in half of the patients. As of 2019, 8,138,790 men and 8,781,580 women in America were cancer survivors who benefited from Chemotherapy. In addition, the American Cancer Society predicts that by 2030, 10,995,610 men and 11,174,200 women will benefit from the procedure and be added to the list of cancer survivors.
What is Chemotherapy?
Chemo is a medical procedure that uses strong chemicals to kill the rapidly proliferating cells in your body. Commonly employed in the treatment of cancer, a disease that affects the body and whose cancer cells proliferate more quickly than healthy cells. A variety of chemo medications can be used to treat cancer alone or in conjunction with other chemotherapies.
Even though Chemo is an effective treatment for many cancer types, there is a chance that it will have side effects. Chemo can have some side effects that are minor and manageable, but some of them can also be very harmful.
There are some everyday situations where different types of Chemo are used, as below:
- Chemo is used to treat cancer as the primary or only therapy and aids in cancer’s cure without additional treatments.
- Additionally, it is used as a supportive therapy after surgery to get rid of cancer cells that might still be there but aren’t obvious. Doctors refer to this treatment as adjuvant therapy.
- Additionally, it helps the patient get ready for additional treatments. It can shrink a tumor, enhancing radiation treatment and surgery efficacy. This is referred to as “neoadjuvant therapy.”
- By eliminating some cancer cells, Chemotherapy can lessen the signs and symptoms of cancer. Physicians refer to this treatment as palliative chemo.
However, Chemotherapy is primarily used for Cancer; there are some other conditions too where it is sound other than cancer.
- Bone marrow diseases are infections that affect the blood and bone marrow. In order to help patients who require a bone marrow transplant, Chemo first gets them ready for the procedure. This method is known as a stem cell transplant.
- An additional problem with immune system disorders is the administration of lower chemo drug doses. It can help to control an overactive immune system when a condition like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis is present.
The dosages and chemo drugs depend on several variables, such as the kind of cancer, the stage of the cancer, general health, previous cancer treatments, and your priorities and objectives. The doctor might provide better direction for your care.
Virtual Reality role in Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy can cause issues that impact the body, mind, and intellect. It may be challenging to complete daily tasks successfully due to these issues. People can deal with these situations and regain their confidence with the aid of virtual reality-based cancer rehabilitation. Assisting the patient in achieving independence both during and after cancer treatment is the aim of rehabilitation. Additionally, it assists in reducing the treatment’s side effects. The quality of life for cancer patients is also improved by cancer rehabilitation.
VR in pain management
Virtual Reality is also an excellent tool for coping with pain. It offers an alternative method of pain relief while making the patient feel more at ease. According to several studies, multisensory experiences can cut self-reported pain scores by as much as 50%. It is a method of cognitive diversion for treating different types of pain. This is one of the factors that has advanced medical research in virtual Reality.
Virtual Reality gives these distraction strategies a fresh look by offering a variety of interactive activities. These video games are set in a simulated environment and have a variety of interactive elements. Even though some apps offer therapeutic virtual Reality for burn victims, there are even more advanced methods that can help with limb pain control. VR can be used as a drug-free pain management option in both clinical and non-clinical settings.
VR in anxiety reduction
Virtual Reality also aids in the patient’s release of the depression and anxiety that cancer has brought on. Losing a body part is a common side effect of cancer. A person’s self-confidence is damaged as a result, which leads to depression and social isolation. However, VR can help a person deal with such a circumstance. It is a tried-and-true method for treating depression and anxiety with a good distraction. Patients are given more control over their exposure through individualized treatment plans based on needs. Even when dealing with anxiety triggers, it gives the patient a sense of power and helps the therapist create a customized VR scenario that can be used at home.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that VR is an excellent tool for anxiety reduction, whether it is associated with cancer treatment chemotherapy, or any other treatment. The VR tool is a great asset in the field of healthcare.
Medical technology is used to create virtual reality games for cancer patients in order to lessen pain. For patients who are hospitalized, virtual reality programs are frequently regarded as excellent and secure pain management techniques. It also serves as the best substitute for traditional physiotherapy because it treats depression and anxiety while also elevating mood.
