Hyperbaric oxygen therapy after radiation
Learn how hyperbaric oxygen therapy can help in treating wounds after radiation therapy.
Hyperbaric chamber for radiation damage
What are soft tissue radiation injuries (STRIs)?
Radiation therapy is an important cancer treatment option that about half of all cancer patients receive. That’s because radiation therapy contributes towards 40% of cancer survival. Unfortunately, soft tissue radiation injuries, also known as radiation dermatitis, are delayed long-term side effects of the therapy.
In short, the radiation that is used to destroy cancer cells also kills normal cells in the surrounding tissues and nearby blood vessels.
Tissues that have been exposed to radiation have a a reduced or narrowed blood supply. Any wound in this area will be very difficult to heal because of that.
Many cancer patients experience soft tissue radiation injuries, sometimes months or years after the initial treatment. Research has shown that hyperbaric oxygen therapy is one of the most effective treatment options for soft tissue radiation injuries.
Hyperbaric chamber for radiation damage Brisbane
Treating soft tissue radiation injuries with hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy or HBOT has been used for many years, including treating radiation wounds.
The main benefit of HBOT is that it speeds up healing by breathing in pure oxygen at air pressure levels that are 2 to 2.8 times higher than in your normal, daily life.
The extra oxygen in your body supports new blood vessel formation, and improves natural infection control.
The beneficial effects of hyperbaric oxygen in radiation-damaged tissues are:
- Hyperbaric oxygen stimulates the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) and improves tissue oxygenation,
- Hyperbaric oxygen reduces thickening or scarring of the tissue (fibrosis),
- Hyperbaric oxygen mobilises and induces an increase of stem cells within irradiated tissues that grow new blood vessels into poorly supplied tissue.
HBOT can help in many areas, not just radiation injury. Check our overview page and find out how HBOT can improve your quality of life and overall health.
Radiation cystitis is a recognised complication of radiation therapy for pelvic cancers. It can be either acute or chronic.
Radiation cystitis typically occurs within 3 months of starting treatment and normally resolves on completion of radiotherapy. Symptoms include painful urination, urinary frequency, urge incontinence and blood in the urine (with or without blood clot occlusion causing urinary retention).
Although symptoms of chronic radiation cystitis can begin early they may not become apparent until months to years later after radiation therapy (median 8–12 months after the completion of therapy). Symptoms of chronic radiation cystitis may include those of acute radiation cystitis but may also include severe bleeding and blood clots, fistula and urinary obstruction.
The incidence of chronic radiation cystitis is estimated at 2%–20%
Radiation cystitis should be suspected in any patient who has had pelvic radiation exposure and presents with the symptoms mentioned above.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a recognised treatment option for radiation cystitis.
A meta-analysis* compiled by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society in 2014 pooled data for 257 cases of radiation cystitis. 196 (or 76.3%) experienced an improvement in symptoms.
At Wesley Hyperbaric, we receive patient referrals from specialists and general practitioners. Treatment for radiation cystitis typically involves 40-60 treatments with hyperbaric oxygen therapy at 2.4ATA. This attracts a Medicare rebate and is supported by all private health funds, meaning all people we treat face little to no out-of-pocket expense, other than admission co-pays they had negotiated with their fund on joining.
*References:
Feldmeier JJ. Delayed Radiation Injuries (Soft tissue and bony necrosis). Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Indications Edition 13, Chapter 8 113-138. 2014, Best Publishing Company. North Palm Beach, Florida.
Radiation proctitis is a recognised complication of radiation therapy for pelvic cancers.
It can be either acute or chronic.
Acute radiation proctitis typically occurs within 3 months of starting treatment and normally resolves on completion of radiotherapy. Symptoms include diarrhoea, nausea, cramps, urgency, mucus discharge and minor bleeding.
Symptoms of chronic radiation proctitis may not become apparent until months to years later after the cessation of therapy (median 8–12 months after the completion of therapy). Symptoms of chronic proctitis may include those of acute radiation proctitis but may further include severe bleeding, strictures, perforation, fistula, and bowel obstruction.
The incidence of chronic radiation proctitis is estimated at 2%–20%
Radiation proctitis should be suspected in any patient who has had pelvic radiation exposure and presents with the symptoms mentioned above. The majority are diagnosed after colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy.
Fistulising disease including rectovaginal, rectourethral, and rectovesicular fistulas may be late presenting symptoms of radiation proctitis but usually will be preceded by other symptoms.
HBOT is a recognised treatment option for radiation proctitis.
A meta-analysis* compiled by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society in 2014 pooled data for 199 cases of radiation proctitis, colitis and enteritis. 80 (or 41%) of the subjects experienced complete resolution of all symptoms, 169 (or 86%) experienced improvement of symptoms, leaving 14% who experienced no benefit from undergoing HBOT.
Wesley Hyperbaric receives patient referrals from specialists and general practitioners. Treatment for radiation proctitis typically involves 40-60 treatments with hyperbaric oxygen therapy at 2.4ATA. This attracts a Medicare rebate and is supported by all private health funds, meaning all people we treat face little to no out-of-pocket expense, other than admission co-pays they had negotiated with their fund on joining.
*References:
Nhue L. Do, Deborah Nagle, and Vitaliy Y. Poylin. Radiation Proctitis: Current Strategies in Management. Gastroenterology Research and Practice, Volume 2011 (2011) http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/917941
Feldmeier JJ. Delayed Radiation Injuries (Soft tissue and bony necrosis). Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Indications Edition 13, Chapter 8 113-138. 2014, Best Publishing Company. North Palm Beach, Florida.
Clarke RE, Tenorio LMC, Hussey JR, et al. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment of chronic refractory radiation proctitis: a randomised and controlled double-blind crossover trial with long term follow up. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2008;72(1):134-143.
Here’s what our admin staff will ask for on your first day:
- Personal details, next of kin, emergency contact details
- Private health insurance membership number
- Medicare card and/or DVA card
- Doctor’s letters, reports, correspondence (if applicable) and all relevant x-rays and scans
- An up-to-date list of ALL your current medications
- Certified copy of your Advanced Health Directive (if applicable)
- Credit/debit card, cash or cheque
If you are running late, please contact our admin team to let us know.
We usually run 2-3 sessions a day, and if we can accommodate you in the next one, we will, but we can not guarantee a space.
Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy after radiation covered?
Am I eligible for HBOT?
Medicare covers delayed radiation injuries to soft tissue and bone. For more information, please check our Insurance page.
If you or a loved one, would like to know more about hyperbaric oxygen therapy, please speak to your GP and find out if you are eligible. Once you have a GP referral, you are welcome to make a booking with one of our Wesley Hyperbaric doctors or nurses.
Your journey starts with these 3 steps
When you have completed your hyperbaric sessions, your condition is reassessed by one of our doctors.