Hyperbaric oxygen
therapy – What is it?
Inhaling oxygen in its purest form in a chamber which is
sealed after oxygen is pressurized to 2-3 times the normal pressure in the atmosphere
is known as HBOT.
There is so far no evidence of cancer cure using the
hyperbaric oxygen therapy alone. However, the cancer center strongly supports
the benefits of HBOT along with the ongoing cancer treatment for the patient.
This therapy combats harmful effects of radiation treatment which is well known
to cause a delayed bone damage or osteoradionecrosis and hence compliment the
overall cancer treatment
What are the
conditions which improve with HBOT?
- Heat burns
- Anemia
- Wounds which are long standing.
- Clot in the retinal artery.
- Diabetic gangrenes.
- Osteoradionecrosis
- Life threatening poisoning of carbon monoxide.
- Decompression sickness
- Extensive osteomyelitis.
- Localized abscess in brain.
- Other radiation effects on soft tissues.
What is the basic
working mechanism of HBOT along with cancer treatment?
At the cancer center, effects of radiotherapy are
neutralized by oxygen therapy. Hyperbaric oxygen stops further damage to bones
and surrounding tissues, fights the inflammatory exudates and accommodates left
over anticipated damage post radiation therapy.
For example, many patients who take radiation therapy for
cervical and brain cancer complain of weakness of jaw bone which can be
prevented by HBOT. Oxygen rejuvenates the vascular system which was blocked by
radiation and reaches out to small blood vessels also.
HBOT also attenuates lymph edema post breast cancer and
lymph nodule surgery. As pain and swelling comes down, the adjacent soft
tissues become more functional and productive.
Treatment with HBOT
The patient is given oxygen therapy solely or in a group for
90 minutes in a chamber. This room is slowly pressurized to begin with and
slowly depressurized to complete the session. Most patients complain of only a
slight discomfort.
Imparting maximum oxygen to patient through pure oxygen,
ozone or hydro peroxide and glutathione rich foods helps in activating the
mitochondria inside the cells and burning the carbohydrates. In the presence of
oxygen, this mechanism retards production of cancer cells and makes them less
potent.
Not only this, oxygen is transported to other parts of body
through the blood stream which further triggers release of growth factors and
stem cells to promote healing. Thus Hyperbaric oxygen when given as an
adjunctive therapy shows a remarkable improvement in patient’s rate of
survival.
What are the side
effects of hyperbaric oxygen?
It can cause problems during pregnancy; it can lead to multi
organ collapse due to inadequate oxygen pressure, dizziness, ear disturbances
and visual problems.
Other common problems are mainly vomitus, seizures due to
oxygen toxicity, palpitations if patient is using a pacemaker and there could
be a risk of catching fire.
