HBOT for Cancer

Cancer is a disease that affects millions of people worldwide, and while modern medicine has made significant advancements in treating and managing cancer, there is still a great deal of research being conducted to discover new and effective treatments.

One such treatment that has gained attention in recent years is HBOT for cancer, a non-invasive therapy that involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. HBOT has been used for decades to treat a range of medical conditions, including decompression sickness, carbon monoxide poisoning, and certain types of wounds.

More recently, there has been growing interest in the potential benefits of HBOT for cancer patients. Some studies have shown that HBOT can help increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, reduce the side effects of these treatments, and even target cancer cells directly.

We will delve into the science behind HBOT and its potential use in the treatment of cancer. We will explore the latest research on the topic, examine the potential benefits and risks of HBOT for cancer patients, and share personal stories from those who have undergone the therapy as part of their cancer treatment plan.

Oxygen and Cancer

It’s easy to take oxygen for granted and forget about its importance. Approximately 21% of the Earth’s atmosphere is made up of this colorless gas. Oxygen is a vital component of life and the third most common element on Earth.

There might be more going on than meets the eye when it comes to oxygen and cancer. Read on to find out more information about oxygen treatment for cancer.

In other words, what does HBOT entail?

Oxygen therapy is an umbrella term for a number of medical procedures that try to increase the body’s oxygen content, typically in an effort to kill off cancer cells and other malignant growths. The optimal amount of oxygen for normal human cells to survive and thrive is well-documented. When you go to a higher altitude or engage in cardiovascular exercise, your body’s processes regulate the amount of oxygen your cells receive, making sure your cells get what they need.

Despite the complexity of oxygen’s relationship with cancer cells, the latter are often oxygen-starved. Tumor cells may benefit from this, as suggested by research on breast cancer cells from humans and animals. Low oxygen levels facilitated the spread of tumor cells because they enhanced the number of tumor cells that would survive.

Oxygen therapy has the potential to inhibit tumor growth and kill cancer cells. Providing oxygen to cancer cells may improve the efficacy of other treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Is HBOT for Cancer a viable treatment option?

Hyperbaric oxygen has been studied extensively as a cancer treatment, but the results have been inconsistent. Boston researchers made headlines in 2015 with their discovery that oxygen flushing of tumors may increase the effectiveness of some treatments.

In the same article, the American Cancer Society stated that “available scientific evidence does not support assertions that infusing oxygen-releasing compounds into a person’s body is useful in cancer treatment.” However, a 2012 review by Norwegian experts found that hyperbaric oxygen slowed the growth of some malignancies but not others. The authors conclude that further study is warranted.

Clinical trials are still being conducted to determine the efficacy of oxygen therapy in treating cancer and mitigate some of the side effects of cancer surgery and other treatments.

In spite of extensive research and extensive resources dedicated to reducing cancer cells, the results are virtually non-existent.

However, HBOT for Cancer can alleviate significant difficulties associated with cancer therapy. Side effects from radiation therapy are almost inevitable. That is, it’s the cancer treatment, and not the illness itself, that’s causing your problems.

How Can HBOT Help Cancer Patients?

HBOT can benefit cancer patients in a number of ways. Here is a synopsis of the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) treatment::

Boosts oxygen levels that have dropped below normal as a result of illness or injury.
Promotes the development of new blood vessels to increase blood flow to tissues in need of oxygen and nutrients.
Boosts the immune system’s white blood cells’ capacity to ward against infection.
Helps alleviate the discomfort of wounds by decreasing swelling, pressure, and pain.
Heals tissues are suffering from a lack of oxygen.

Tissues in the treated area may experience a shift in their oxygen supply as a result of radiation. In addition to damaging cancer cells, radiation also harms healthy cells and blood vessels

Tiny blood arteries in the treated area may be harmed by radiotherapy. This could lead to a decrease in the volume of blood reaching that location. Because of this, oxygen and nutrients have a harder time reaching the tissues where they’re needed.

Tissues under stress may gradually atrophy and weaken. (ulcerate). In extremely rare instances, complete tissue death may occur. (radiation necrosis). Radiation injury may not become apparent for months or even years.

Injured tissue receives more oxygen thanks to hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). This stimulates the growth of new capillaries and aids in the repair of damaged tissues.

Radiation treatment, or radiotherapy, is used to treat some forms of pelvic cancer. The hips and the area in between them constitute the pelvis. The pelvic area is home to the bladder. Radiation to this location may, therefore, occasionally cause persistent urinary bladder discomfort. (chronic cystitis).

It’s possible that hyperbaric oxygen therapy helps with these issues. It could be utilized if all other treatments have been exhausted.

Radiation therapy is commonly used to treat cancers of the head and neck. Tissues in the proximity of this area are particularly vulnerable to trauma. Having surgery done before radiotherapy can increase the probability of harm. Rarely, an impact might cause a piece of bone to begin degenerating and eventually perish. The medical term for this is osteoradionecrosis (ORN). Radiation therapy to the chest or pelvis, for example, can cause bone damage in the same way as it might damage the bones of the extremities.

Treatment with HBOT may be recommended after radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. The intention is to help stop jaw fractures from happening.

Constipation as a result of long-term radiation exposure

Bowel damage is a possible side effect of pelvic cancer radiotherapy. Radiation injury to the delicate digestive tract occasionally causes chronic sickness.

When other treatments haven’t worked, you may want to try hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).

The Benefits and Risks of HBOT for Cancer

Although hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be administered in a hospital setting, it is typically administered as an outpatient procedure.

There are two main types of hyperbaric oxygen chambers:

A studio that sleeps just one person. You’ll spend each session lying on a table that slips into a clear plastic cubby.

Space that can house several individuals. A multi-patient hyperbaric oxygen room is typically the size of a sizable hospital waiting room, and patients have the option of sitting or lying down during treatment. Wearing a mask over your face or a light, translucent hood over your head can deliver oxygen to your bloodstream.

The advantages of hyperbaric oxygen therapy are equivalent to whether the treatment is administered to an individual or a group.

During HBOT for Cancer treatment, the room’s air pressure is increased by a factor of two to three over its normal value. There may be a momentary feeling of fullness in your ears due to the increased air pressure, similar to that felt on a flight or while traveling to a high altitude. Fortunately, yawning or swallowing can help relieve the discomfort.

The typical treatment time for hyperbaric oxygen therapy is two hours. Members of your healthcare team will monitor both you and the therapy unit as you undergo treatment.

The members of your therapy team will take your vitals (heart rate, blood pressure) and do a variety of other tests to determine how well you are responding to therapy. Diabetics have their blood glucose levels checked regularly.

You might feel sleepy or hungry after your treatment. This shouldn’t get in the way of regular routines.

The effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy typically need multiple sessions. The total number of sessions required is based on the severity of your health issue. Carbon monoxide poisoning, for example, may be treated in as few as three doctor visits. Some conditions, including chronic wounds that refuse to heal, may require 40 or more sessions before they show any improvement.

When treating legitimate health issues, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is often just one component of a larger, individualized treatment regimen that also includes other therapies and pharmaceuticals.

What to expect from an HBOT session

In an HBOT chamber, the pressure is increased to two to three times the normal atmospheric pressure, allowing the patient to breathe in a much higher concentration of oxygen than they would be able to at normal atmospheric pressure. This high concentration of oxygen dissolves into the patient’s blood plasma and is then carried to all parts of the body, including areas that may have a reduced blood supply due to injury or disease.

The increased oxygen levels in the body promote healing by stimulating the growth of new blood vessels, reducing inflammation, and fighting infection. In addition, the high-pressure environment of the chamber can also help to decrease swelling, relieve pain, and promote tissue repair.

HBOT is typically administered in a specially designed chamber, either a monoplace chamber, which is designed for one person, or a multiplace chamber, which can accommodate several patients at once. The patient is placed inside the chamber and given a mask or hood to breathe the pure oxygen while the pressure inside the chamber is gradually increased to the prescribed level.

The length of each HBOT session can vary depending on the condition being treated and the individual patient’s needs. Most sessions last between 60-120 minutes, and patients may undergo multiple sessions over a period of days or weeks, depending on the severity of their condition.

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