Cancer survivors experiencing complications from chemotherapy benefit from adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy in various ways.  Chemotherapy causes patients to be immuno-compromised.  A suppressed immune system can lead to infections and non-healing wounds which may be covered indications for hyperbaric medicine. 

Patients benefit from the therapeutic effects of adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy by its ability to:

• Reduce the effects of chronic pain and swelling, and, anecdotally in some patients the diminishment of “chemo brain” symptoms.

• Promote wound healing by supersaturating the plasma with 100 percent oxygen under pressure to create new cells and pathways for blood flow.

• Help new capillaries and blood vessels to form (angiogenesis) in tissues starving for oxygen.

• Promote collagen to form helping new blood vessels thrive and wounds to heal.

• Boost the effectiveness of certain antibiotics – an oxygen dependent function.

WHEN TO CALL HYOX:

• Immediately, when complications like wounds and infection are present.