October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 1 in 8 women in the US will get a breast cancer diagnosis, and the risk increases in women over 40. Almost everyone knows someone who suffers from breast cancer. Some people develop breast cancer via genetic and environmental factors. Risk factors can include obesity, and drinking alcohol. Regular self exams and mammograms are essential for every woman to detect breast cancer at an early stage. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy or HBOT helps patients with breast cancer in so many ways. Some cancer patients can experience post radiation effects with radiotherapy treatments, and HBOT from 100% medical grade hyperbaric chambers will be able to treat the radiated tissue after late effects of radiation therapy (LERT). Tissue damage can occur even years after the patient’s cancer treatment. This is when HBOT can be extremely beneficial to the patient, by supplying the oxygen needed to the cells in order to heal. 

HBOT can shorten the inflammatory process, thereby treating non-healing wounds. It increases oxygenation to white blood cells to promote vasoconstriction. It speeds up the rate of healing in cells. This helps the cells strengthen collagen, supporting wound healing. It is thought that late radiation tissue injury (LRTI) is caused by fibro-atophic processes in the cells. HBOT increases the white blood cells to that area of the body, and according to journals.plos.org, all patients in the trial reported decrease in pain after the trial. It was observed that HBOT works most efficiently as soon as radiotherapy is complete or an LRTI is noticed. 

HBOT helps lower pain in post radiation and surgical sites, and reduces swelling. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases the white blood cells needed to stimulate the immune response after cancer treatment. Margaret went to Advanced Hyperbaric Recovery INC after radiotherapy for breast cancer. She said, “Following my Radiation for a Lumpectomy from Breast Cancer, I suffered a very heavy radiation burn with much swelling. My whole breast and 1/2 of my chest was very, very hot, dark red, burgundy and almost purple…The scar was raised and painful…Finally I started treatment at Advanced Hyperbaric Recovery…The huge thick scar itself flattened out and became non-existent. Last week my Mammogram Radiology Tech asked me, “You did have surgery, right?!” Because she could NOT find the scar! She was amazed at my healing! I have my energy back and I am so thankful – it was worth it! The staff at Advanced Hyperbaric Recovery on scale from 1-10 is a 10+++! They are caring, informative, and empathetic and really helped me through the process. I wouldn’t go anywhere else for true medical grade Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.” 

Many complications can arise from traditional cancer treatment, and HBOT is a painless, noninvasive and relaxing option for many people. Contact us if you have any questions or if you or someone you love has breast cancer, and they need to know the benefits of HBOT.