Effect on Fatigue of Light (Lux) Therapy in Patients With Cancer

Fatigue is a symptom most commonly associated with the diagnosis of cancer. Fatigue often appears before the diagnosis of cancer, is increasing during treatment with chemotherapy and persists for years after treatment in more than 35% of patients. Fatigue is the earliest and most important symptom described by cancer patients. Its prevalence in cancer chemotherapy patients is between 70 and 100%. Fatigue is more common to cancer patients and to the general population or other types of patients. Typically described as a lack of energy associated with mental disorders, fatigue related to cancer can be extremely debilitating. The causes are many, mainly including the cancer itself, side effects due to treatment, sleeplessness due to pain, anxiety or depression. The cancer-related fatigue has a negative and significant direct impact on all aspects of the patient's quality of life, especially the physical, social and behavioral. Despite the availability of certain treatments and the advanced biomedical research, fatigue remains an inevitable consequence of cancer and its treatment. The therapeutic use of natural light in medicine dates back to the late nineteenth century. Its remarkable effect on the stimulation of the immune system and fight against infections caused the development of the first therapy techniques (also called luxthérapie) awarded in 1903 by the Nobel Prize in medicine and physiology. Light plays a fundamental role in the regulation of circadian rhythms and homeostatic. The mechanism of action passes through a path "non-visual" involving melanopsin ganglion cells located in the retina. Activation of the pineal gland (epiphysis) by melanopsin cells allows transduce information "shadow and light" in melatonin synthesis from serotonin. Today, the effectiveness of the therapy is well established for treating fatigue-related disorders such as chronic fatigue, seasonal depression or seasonal or non-certain sleep disorders and in which the melatonin metabolism is disturbed. Light therapy, by its mechanism of action, allows reprogramming "of the biological clock and improved synchronization of circadian rhythms.

Sex

All

Minimum age

18 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* Cancer histologically or cytologically confirmed (regardless of type)
* Patient eligible for first-line chemotherapy
* Life expectancy\> 3 months
* WHO PS ≤ 2
* Age ≥ 18 years
* Informed consent signed and dated
* Affiliation to a social security scheme

Exclusion Criteria:

* Macular degeneration
* Diabetic retinopathy
* Glaucoma
* untreated cataract
* Patient treated with vitamin D
* Psychiatric disorders (bipolar disorder, paranoia, schizophrenia)
* For patients with other comorbidities may indicate against-the practice of therapy: application specialist opinion (ophthalmologist or psychiatrist)