Radiation therapy is used to kill cancerous tissue, however it may also cause injury to nearby healthy tissue in up to 20 per cent of patients. This is called radiation tissue injury. Hyperbaric oxygenation is the preferred treatment globally for the side effects of radiation therapy and is paid for by most private healthcare insurance.
Hyperbaric oxygenation is an established non-invasive adjunct treatment during and after cancer radiation therapy. By breathing oxygen under pressure more oxygen is able to dissolve in the tissue, helping it to heal.
Irish Life Healthcare pays for private hyperbaric oxygenation for radiation tissue injury at OxyGeneration in Galway.
Fortunately, a French trained consultant working in Dublin convinced the HSE to pay for private hyperbaric oxygenation for radiation tissue injury. As a result, thousands of patients in six public hospitals in Dublin within the St Luke’s Radiation Oncology Network have benefited.
Patients that choose hyperbaric oxygenation frequently avoid surgery for radiation tissue injury as the hyperbaric oxygenation can help the injured tissue heal and recover. They can also experience relief from other radiation side effects such as pain, fatigue, headaches, nausea, infection, bleeding, inflammation (cystitis/ proctitis ), changes to bowel movements, and incontinence.
Hyperbaric oxygenation is the preferred treatment option for radiation tissue injury for most patients when they are given balanced information on the known benefits. However, patients must be informed of all the options prior to obtaining their valid informed consent to their treatment of choice. See OxyGeneration.com for more details.
