Bright light therapy protects women from circadian rhythm desynchronization during chemotherapy for breast cancer

Circadian rhythms (CRs) are commonly disrupted in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer (BC). Bright light improves and strengthens CRs in other populations. This randomized controlled study examined the effect of morning administration of bright light therapy on CRs in women undergoing chemotherapy for BC. It was hypothesized that women receiving bright light therapy would exhibit more robust rhythms than women exposed to dim light. Thirty-nine women newly diagnosed with BC and scheduled for chemotherapy were randomized into 2 groups: bright white light (BWL) or dim red light (DRL). Women were instructed to use the light box every morning for 30 min during their first 4 cycles of chemotherapy. Wrist actigraphy was recorded at 5 time points: prior to chemotherapy (baseline), Cycle-1 treatment week (C1TW), Cycle-1 recovery week (C1RW), Cycle-4 treatment week (C4TW), and Cycle-4 recovery week (C4RW). There was a Group × Time interaction at C4TW compared to baseline such that the DRL group showed significant deterioration in the mean of the activity rhythm (mesor) and amplitude, whereas the BWL group exhibited a significant increase in both mesor and amplitude. The DRL group also exhibited significant deterioration in overall rhythm robustness at C1TW, C4TW, and C4RW. Women in the BWL group also showed significant decreases in overall rhythm robustness at C1TW and C4TW, but returned to baseline levels at both recovery weeks. The results suggest that morning administration of bright light may protect women from experiencing CR deterioration during chemotherapy.