Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Oncology

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a treatment procedure in which the patient is given 100% pure oxygen. Due to factors such as unhealthy lifestyle habits, stress and genetic predisposition, cancer is a health problem that is becoming increasingly common all over the world. As cancer is a globally widespread health problem, innovative approaches to cancer treatment are coming to the fore every day. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which is used today to treat many health problems, has in recent years also become one of the methods used effectively in cancer treatment. One of the important features of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is that it is used not only to treat cancer but also to ease complications that may arise after treatment. Read on for answers to questions such as “What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy and what does it do?”, “How is hyperbaric oxygen therapy applied?” and “How is hyperbaric oxygen therapy used in oncology?”, as well as anything else you may want to know about hyperbaric oxygen therapy in oncology.

What Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, also known as hyperoxygenation, is a treatment procedure that is effective in various health problems, above all in cancer treatment. The history of hyperbaric oxygen therapy goes back to the 17th century. In its early years, hyperbaric oxygen therapy was used only in underwater (diving) medicine; today it is used to treat many health problems, from cancer to diseases of the circulatory system.

The main goal of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is to deliver more oxygen to tissues and organs. In patients receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the oxygen level in the tissues rises, which can speed up the healing process. Hyperoxygenation therapy can have a direct effect on treatment by oxygenating tissues in cases such as injuries, and by raising the body’s oxygen level it can also help, in the long term, in the treatment of health problems such as narrowing of the blood vessels. If you are experiencing any health problem, you can make an appointment with a specialist doctor to get detailed information about hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Some of the health problems for which hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be preferred are listed below:

• Cancer treatment and management of treatment complications,

• Serious injuries and burns,

• Decompression sickness (the bends),

• Carbon monoxide poisoning,

• Air (gas) embolism,

• Chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers.

Under normal conditions, the air in a room contains 21% oxygen. The aim of hyperoxygenation therapy is to raise the amount of oxygen in the air the patient breathes to 100%, so that more oxygen reaches the lungs, the blood and all tissues. In this way, more oxygen can reach the tissues and organs. During hyperbaric oxygen therapy, patients are placed in single- or multi-person cabins called pressure chambers. The pressure inside the chamber is then increased gradually. Meanwhile, depending on their general state of health, patients are given masks or transparent oxygen hoods. Once the pressure in the chamber reaches the desired level, patients begin breathing 100% pure oxygen through these masks. Each session lasts about 2 hours. When pure oxygen is first given, patients may feel mild discomfort in their ears caused by the pressure. This discomfort is relieved with ear-equalisation techniques, and patients usually get used to it after a while. During oxygen therapy, patients can contact the healthcare staff with special buttons if they need to, and can take a short break to breathe normal air. At the end of the therapy, the pressure in the chamber is reduced gradually so that patients can adapt to normal atmospheric pressure outside; the patient is then taken out of the pressure chamber and can return to daily life.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Oncology

There are certain differences between cancer cells and other cells. The most important features that distinguish healthy cells from cancer cells are that they multiply when and where they are needed, can repair themselves and destroy themselves when they age. Cancer cells, on the other hand, do not stop growing and continue to multiply even as they age. They also lack the capacity to repair themselves when damaged. One of the most important features of cancer cells is that they adapt easily to an environment with a low oxygen level. In other words, if the oxygen level in a tissue falls below a certain threshold, cancer cells adapt to the oxygen-poor environment instead of renewing or destroying themselves.

Some studies suggest that a lack of oxygen may be the reason why cancer cells resist treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. For this reason, it is thought that applying hyperbaric oxygen therapy to cancer patients may increase the effectiveness of treatment and support the treatment process. If you would like information about hyperbaric oxygen therapy, you can make an appointment with a specialist doctor and, after the necessary examinations, benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Frequently asked questions about the uses of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in oncology are covered below.

Supportive Therapy in Medical Oncology

Oncology, the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, is divided into sub-specialties such as medical oncology, radiation oncology and surgical oncology. Medical oncology deals with drug treatment of cancer, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy and hormone therapy. The fact that cancer cells develop mechanisms to protect themselves in oxygen-poor environments is one of the main reasons why hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used as supportive therapy in medical oncology.

Some research shows that hyperbaric oxygen therapy used on its own may also help prevent cancer cells from growing and multiplying. In addition, research suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be more effective against cancer when used together with treatments given by medical oncologists, such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy. For example, in the treatment of cancers such as bone cancer, using hyperbaric oxygen alongside chemotherapy drugs may not only inhibit the growth of cancer cells but also help prevent the cancer from metastasising (spreading) to other organs.

Another treatment method medical oncologists use in cancer treatment is immunotherapy. Immunotherapy uses the cells of the person’s own immune system. T lymphocytes (T cells) in the immune system are the cells that take part in fighting cancer. Some drugs used during immunotherapy can help strengthen T cells and enable them to neutralise cancer cells. However, hypoxia, or a lack of oxygen, inside the cancer cell can weaken the immune system’s response to cancer. To prevent this, medical oncologists may recommend HBOT as a supportive therapy during immunotherapy. By increasing the oxygen level inside the cancer cell, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may help immunotherapy drugs reach T cells more easily.

Supportive Therapy in Radiation Oncology

One of the important sub-specialties of oncology is radiation oncology. The branch that uses high-energy rays such as X-rays to treat cancer is called radiation oncology. During cancer treatment with radiotherapy, high-energy rays are used to eliminate malignant cells. In some cases, if there is not enough oxygen in the cancer cell, the cell can easily adapt to the new environment and develop resistance to radiotherapy. In such cases, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can increase the effectiveness of treatment by oxygenating the cell.

One of the main complications of radiotherapy is that healthy cells are also damaged by the high-energy rays. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may help ease this damage to healthy cells caused by high-energy rays, one of the main complications of radiotherapy.

Complication Management

One of the main areas in which hyperbaric oxygen therapy is used in cancer treatment is complication management. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the main cancer treatment procedures used to fight and destroy cancer cells. However, the drugs used in chemotherapy and/or the high-energy rays used in radiotherapy can damage healthy cells as well as cancer cells. As a result, some complications may be seen in patients after treatment sessions. The main complications related to cancer treatment are as follows:

• Fatigue is one of the most common complications of cancer treatment. The main reason is that, while fighting cancer, the immune system is also trying to repair cells damaged by treatment. This can cause symptoms such as tiredness and exhaustion.

• Skin wounds may appear, especially in areas that have received high-energy radiation during radiotherapy.

• Hair follicles are sensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This can lead to hair loss during or after cancer treatment. Hair loss is usually temporary, and the patient’s hair may start to grow back after treatment.

In addition to the above, symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite and vomiting are also common during cancer treatment. Today, many methods such as medication and vitamin support are used to eliminate the side effects of cancer treatment. One of the methods used to manage complications arising during or after cancer treatment is hyperbaric oxygenation. So how does hyperbaric oxygen therapy help manage the complications of cancer treatment? Based on giving the patient 100% pure oxygen inside a pressure chamber, one of the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is that it helps carry more oxygen to the body’s tissues. Oxygen-rich tissues and cells can repair themselves more easily. In this way, it can speed up the healing of tissues damaged during chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In addition, hyperbaric oxygen therapy may have an anti-inflammatory effect (reducing inflammation and oedema) in the body. Thanks to this property, HBOT may also help relieve symptoms such as pain and soreness related to cancer treatment. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a treatment procedure that can be effective in cancer treatment both as a primary and as a supportive therapy. However, the treatment methods used in cancer care are determined individually according to the patient’s condition. It is important that the decision to use hyperbaric oxygenation during treatment is made by a specialist oncologist. To get detailed information about hyperbaric oxygen therapy, do not forget to make an appointment with a specialist doctor and have the necessary examinations done.

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