Cancer and Hyperbarics
In 2013, over 1.6 million people were diagnosed with cancer and over 500,000 cancer-realted deaths occurred in the U.S. alone. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death, world-wide, and new integrated treatments are being utilized to help combat its devastating effects. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is currently being utilized in conjunction with conventional treatments, including radiation and chemotherapy, to attain optimal dosages for patients, stimulate tumor regression and reduce the side effects of treatments. Cancer thrives in hypoxic or low-oxygen environments and HBOT has been shown to increase these oxygen levels to weaken tumors and reduce their aggressiveness. Studies have demonstrated that the benefits of HBOT for cancer with the following:
Enhance “Conventional” Cancer Therapies & Treatments with HBOT
- Increases Oxygen Levels in Tumors
- o Better Radiation Therapy Results
- o Improves Chemotherapy Outcome
- o Enhances Brain Treatment
- Decreases Tumor Drug Resistance
- Allows for Optimal Therapy Dosage to be Attained
- Improves Surgical Results
Reduce Tumor Aggressiveness with HBOT
- Weakens Hypoxic Tumors
- Targets Metastatic Tumors
Increase Natural Killer Cell Activity and Function with HBOT
- Increases Reactive Oxygen Species Production
- Amplifies Cancer Cell Death
- Regresses Tumor Volume
Reduce Side Effects of “Conventional” Cancer Therapies & Treatments with HBOT
- Reduces Radiation Therapy Side Effects
- Decreases Chemotherapy Side Effects
- Accelerates Post-Operative Healing & Prevents Infection
- Reduces Chemo-Brain Syndrome Symptoms
Enhance IV Cancer Treatments with HBOT
- Increases Intravenous Vitamin C Therapy Effect
Cancer Prevention with HBOT
- Decreases Inflammatory Markers
- Normalized Intracellular Oxygen Levels
- Stimulates Cellular Detoxification
- Reduces Risk of Pathogenic Inflammatory- Related Tumors
- Supports Cellular Energy Processes for Optimal DNA Repair
Study: Tumor Regression Stimulated by HBOT
A non-randomized trial was conducted with 29 patients to evaluate the effectiveness of radiotherapy combined with HBOT, in patients with a malignant tumor. Fifteen patients were irradiated daily after HBOT and fourteen other irradiated patients were treated without HBOT. In the HBOT group, 11 of 15 patients (73 percent) showed ≥ 50 percent tumor regression. In the non-HBOT group, only four of 14 patients (29 percent) underwent tumor regression. The average survival rate in patients with HBOT doubled that of the non-HBOT group (24 months vs. 12 months) respectively. No serious side-effects were observed in the HBOT patients. This provides additional support for HBOT to be a beneficial treatment for malignant tumors.
