For many people, radiation therapy is a powerful, life-saving treatment for cancer. However, it can leave lasting changes in the healthy tissue surrounding the treated area.
Months or even years after radiation treatment finishes, some people who've had radiotherapy for breast cancer develop pain, stiffness, swelling, or slow healing in the chest, shoulder or arm. These symptoms can be signs of radiation injury, and can make everyday movement and comfort harder. They can develop gradually and don't always respond well to standard treatment. For some, these effects continue long after cancer treatment has ended.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT ) is an internationally recognised adjunctive treatment for radiation injury and can be used as part of a broader recovery programme alongside standard medical care.
HBOT involves sitting in a sealed chamber while breathing high-concentration oxygen at a higher-than-normal pressure. Under pressure, oxygen dissolves directly into the blood plasma. This raises the amount of oxygen reaching tissue where blood supply is poor, including tissue affected by radiation. That additional oxygen supports several of the body's own repair processes: it helps the growth of new blood vessels, supports skin and bone cell activity, enhances the ability of white blood cells to fight infection, and may help modulate inflammatory signalling.
Outcomes vary between individuals and depend on the underlying condition, which is why the number of sessions required varies. HBOT is generally well tolerated; the most common issue is ear discomfort during pressure changes.
OxyGeneration is supporting this year's Play in Pink at Galway Golf Club with sponsored prizes, in support of everyone affected by breast cancer.
If you have had radiation therapy and are living with lingering symptoms, it may be worth exploring whether HBOT could support your recovery. Learn more at OxyGeneration.com, or call 091 394 444.
