How HBOT Can Assist With Chemo And Radiation
The human body depends on oxygen for all of its vital functions. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) can help as adjunctive therapy with traditional treatment.
What is HBOT?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy or HBOT, is a treatment that increases the amount of oxygen that the body absorbs during a limited and monitored period. The process is relatively simple: patients are placed in a pressurized chamber for a period of 60 – 90 minutes per session inhaling up to 100% pure oxygen, depending on their specific medical needs. Pressure in the chamber is 3 times higher than normal, this enables the body to absorb more oxygen. Patients do not need to ingest any medication nor are they vulnerable to side effects such as nausea or hair loss from the chemicals used to fight disease.
Chemotherapy and Radiation
For patients who have to undergo chemotherapy, the side effects thereof are what takes a great toll on the body. There is a wide range of side effects that accompany chemotherapy and radiation treatment which include, but are not limited to fatigue, easy bruising and bleeding, nausea and vomiting, and muscle and nerve problems.
While radiation therapy has come a long way since its inception in the 1900s, it still can have an impact on the surrounding tissue. Patients need to bear in mind that symptoms won’t always show immediately after radiation therapy, it may be months or years before side effects can occur. When tissue is radiated it may be years before the damage is evident. There are a variety of side effects than can occur post-radiation treatment which includes:
- Burning or bleeding when urinating after being treated for prostate cancer.
- Poor circulation and open sores after a mastectomy.
- Weakened bones and open sores after radiation treatment for cancerous cells in the neck or head.
- Bleeding or diarrhea after treatment for colon cancer.
- While not uncommon, some people experience slight changes in their personality after they receive radiation treatment for brain cancer.
How Does HBOT Assist with Chemo and Radiation?
Hyperbaric medicine can be used by cancer patients as an adjunctive treatment to boost the healing process. An increase in oxygen to the body will result in a reduction in tissue inflammation in the area where the patient’s chemotherapy is targeted. Chemotherapy and radiation treatment can also affect a patient’s blood vessels, but studies have shown that HBOT aids in the regrowth of new blood vessels, which aid in the overall healing process as oxygen travels through these vessels to the affected tissue. HBOT causes increased stem cell mobilization which helps to boost the immune system. By undergoing HBOT treatment, while undergoing chemo or radiation treatment, patients can lessen the risks of latent side effects caused by the deterioration of damaged tissue.
If you have any questions regarding HBOT treatment give us a call at (800) 208-4846 or www.classichyperbarics.com.
