A new study just published on Feb 2011 in the journal of cancer makes a strong argument for applying hyperbaric oxygenation therapy (HBOT) for those patients who have had either surgery or radiation therapy for brain tumors. The study followed patients who had been treated with HBOT and there was a marked improvement in cognitive function which was supported and documented by standard neuropsychological testing <view study> Read Less

Virgina Mason Hospital’s hyperbaric unit has pulled together a report which documents 411 of their patients who took course in HBOT following radiation therapy, for the diagnosis of chronic radiation-induced tissue damage. The results were quite dramatic. For example, a positive outcome from hyperbaric treatment occurred in 94% of patients with osteoradionecrosis of the jaw. Hopefully, this will encourage the medical community to make stronger recommendations for hyperbaric therapy <view study> Read Less

Temozolomide is currently being used for aggressive brain tumors, among other cancers. The effectiveness of this treatment is reduced with tumor hypoxia (low oxygen levels). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was shown in this study to reduce tumor hypoxia and thus help to increase the effectiveness of Temozolomide against the glioma, producing a much more powerful anti-tumor activity. This research is consistent with many recent studies showing the added effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy with conventional therapies like chemotherapy, in helping to increase the effectiveness of these therapies <view study> Read Less

Radiation therapy is a standard of care for many patients undergoing cancer treatments; however, when pelvic radiation is performed, it’s successes also can come with a debilitating side-effect where the bladder becomes inflamed leading to a painful and bleeding condition called hemorrhagic cystitis (HS). This is a very difficult condition to treat. Promising new research, just published in March 2011, is now giving hope for these sufferers. This study clearly demonstrates successful therapy with long-term follow up when patients were treated with hyperbaric oxygenation therapy. Here, a standard program of just 40 hyperbaric sessions were given to 25 patients who were diagnosed with HS. More importantly, all patients had already failed conventional therapy. So get ready for the results–ALL 25 PATIENTS IMPROVED AND WERE SUCCESSFULLY TREATED. Furthermore, after close to 2 year follow up, no regressions were shown. The results of this study are truly remarkable and makes for a strong argument to add hyperabric oxygenation therapy to standard of care and a primary treatment option for those with HS. The authors of the study support this previous statement by adding in the fact that hyperbaric oxygen is highly effective and safe, non-invasive therapy for HC secondary to pelvic radiation <view study> Read Less

More research is demonstrating the importance of combining hyperbaric oxygen therapy with conventional drug therapy for cancer for sensitizing the cancer cells, ultimately leading to more cancer death. Here, this study showed us that just elevating the pressure and combining a promising anticancer agent caused more destruction to the cancer cells <view study> Read Less