Hyperbaric Oxygen Heals Radiation Damage to the Breast
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) often halts ongoing radiation damage to breast tissues, bones, and skin
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Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) often halts ongoing radiation damage to breast tissues, bones, and skin
Are you a Patient? View Patient version of this page
How Hyperbarics Helps
Stimulates angiogenesis of the radiated bed
Corrects ischemia
Reduces fibrosis, softens connective fibrous tissue
Mobilizes and increases stem cells
Resolves infection
Effective in wound closure and resolving contraction
Salvages threatened breast soft tissue reconstruction
Reduces pain
What the Research Says
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) often halts ongoing radiation damage to breast tissues, bones, and skin. It is also increasingly used as an adjunct to skin grafting in women treated for necrosis of the chest wall after a mastectomy or reconstructive surgery. Skin grafts over tissue that has been damaged by radiation therapy have a lower chance of healing. When such grafts or flaps become compromised, hyperbarics can heal those wounds.
Most insurance companies, as well as Medicare, typically cover the cost of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for damage or non-healing wounds following radiation therapy. HBOT stimulates angiogenesis in hypoxic tissues, correcting the ischemia. New, healthy blood vessels supplying blood and oxygen to damaged tissues improves flap and graft salvage.
Often the wounds that cause pain, tightness, tenderness and burning after breast cancer radiation treatments resolve on their own in a few months. However, those that do not resolve are most often responsive to hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Over the last 20 years, we have observed HBOT helping patients with a variety of non-healing wounds on the breast, ribs and chest wall. We have seen resolved infections, resolved pain and skin returned to its’ normal color. We have also seen shoulder and elbow pain reduced or eliminated by resolving lyphedema and salvaged flaps.
Research Studies
THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION
Patient EQ-5D and NRS pain scores improved
Teguh et al analysis of women undergoing HBOT after breast-conserving therapy (2016). 81% had significant improvements in their NRS pain score. 71% showed improvements in their EQ-5D scores.
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Patient EQ-5D and NRS pain scores improved
In these studies, breast cancer patients treated with HBOT for LRITT, the patient-reported outcomes were positive and improvements were observed. HBOT was a well-tolerated treatment for LRITT and its side-effects were both minimal and reversible.
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67 of 74 studies show significant positive results from HBOT for delayed radiation injury
A systematic review of the literature reporting the application of hyperbaric oxygen prevention and treatment of delayed radiation injuries: an evidence based approach
THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION
67 of 74 studies show significant positive results from HBOT for delayed radiation injury
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is approved for delayed radiation injuries, including soft tissue and bony radiation necrosis. This paper provides a systematic review of seventy-four publications reporting positive results when HBOT was used as treatment or prevention for delayed radiation injury. This is particularly impressive considering alternative interventions often require radical surgery, which can result in complications. HBOT is recommended for delayed radiation injuries of most sites, including an increasing body of evidence supporting its use for radiation-induced necrosis of the brain. Further study is needed for other radiation-induced neurological injuries before routine hyperbaric therapy can be recommended.
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Hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of delayed radiation injuries of the extremities
Hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of delayed radiation injuries of the extremities. 11 of 13 (85%) of cases resolved as a result of hbot
THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION
Hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of delayed radiation injuries of the extremities
HBO2 is effective in treating radiation injuries at various sites. A retrospective review of 17 patients treated with HBO2 for nonhealing necrotic wounds of previously irradiated extremities showed a 65% complete healing rate, with 85% success when excluding patients with active cancer or lost to follow-up. Four of the five failures required amputation, emphasizing the importance of successful treatment. HBO2 is a useful adjunct in the management of radiation injuries of the extremities and other sites.
Patient Experiences
Bay Area Hyperbarics has healed hundreds of patients with stubborn and non-healing wounds over the last 20 years.
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Karen, 36
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy healed her pain, swelling, aching and overall body fatigue following treatment for breast cancer.
Karen is 36 year old stay at home mom of two little girls, and a musician who taught music whenever she could. When she received a cancer diagnosis, as with most young women, her diagnosis was a shock to her and her family. In the end, she had a double mastectomy, radiation and chemotherapy. The weakness and fatigue that followed in the wake of her procedures were bad enough, but the pain that arose was almost debilitating. Because of the pain, she had difficulty driving her girls to daycare because she could barely hold onto the steering wheel. She complained that her arms felt like lead and her left shoulder hurt with a shocking intensity every time she turned the steering wheel. She simply cried in pain as she drove. Her physician diagnosed this pain as damage from the radiation treatments, and he sent her to Bay Area Hyperbarics. Karen's hyperbaric oxygen treatments healed her pain, the swelling and the aching. To her additional relief, HBOT also helped diminish the overall body fatigue that otherwise increased as morning progressed to afternoon.
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Angelina, 43
A lumpectomy and radiation caused pain lifting her right arm. After HBOT, her pain was gone.
Angelina is a 43-year-old mother of three and wife who works in the families leather and fabrics repair business. She, her husband and two sisters work out of a shop in our community. On some school holidays, she brings one of her children in to the shop. Angelina had a lumpectomy and radiation to her right breast. The difficulty started slowly over the next several years when she had pain on lifting up her right arm. Cancer was ruled out. She was sent to physical therapy. She did her physical therapy exercises daily as they requested but the weakness and pain continued to make working difficult as she repaired items on the machines. I gave her information about hyperbaric medicine and what it had done for my mother. She took it to her physician who approved her for HBOT. The mild swelling and some pain reduced within the first week of treatments. It took 30 treatments to repair the tissues to dispel the pain. A year later she was still working in the shop without pain or range of motion issues.
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Denise, 43
An incision from breast surgery became infected and would not heal due to radiation. HBOT healed the infection.
Denise is a 43 year old high energy, traveling nurse who volunteers in her church helping women navigate their lives. Talkative and bright, she also manages her husbands' medical issues and takes care of her family. She had breast reconstruction and subsequent surgical wounds. Unfortunately, one of the incisions became infected, painful and slow to heal. Denise was hospitalized and given IV antibiotics. She came to Bay Area Hyperbarics because her physician said she wasn’t healing quickly because the radiation had damaged the tissues. She moved slowly so as not to jostle her shoulder which would cause her more pain. The hyperbaric oxygen sessions healed up her incision and supercharged the antibiotics to kill the infection. Needless to say she is healed and on the road again taking care of others in need.
Physicians: Refer a Patient
Refer a patient in three easy steps.
1
You Submit Your Patient’s Information
As a provider, your office fills out and faxes back the Patient Referral Form. Have questions? Call us!
2
We Get Authorizations
We ensure the patient understands the treatment and follows the prescribed protocol to get the patient on the road to recovery!
3
Patient Starts HBOT
Our medical staff meets with the patient to ensure that HBOT treatment is appropriate and contacts Medicare or private insurance to receive authorization.
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Research on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
To learn more about HBOT, take a look at our FAQs.
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What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treats medical conditions with 100% oxygen in a pressurized hyperbaric chamber. The patient lies or sits in the chamber. The oxygen then saturates the plasma in the blood, allowing oxygen to easily flow throughout the body and reach even areas that are injured or diseased, which typically receive less oxygen. The mechanisms of hyperbaric oxygen therapy include stimulating and mobilizing stem cells, down-regulating inflammatory genes, up-regulating reproductive cells and stimulating DNA. HBOT also regrows tiny blood vessels, and stimulates the growth of new healthy cells in the brain, bones, skin, organs, and tissues. People seek hyperbaric oxygen therapy to heal physical damage in their bodies and to promoting health and anti-aging.
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Does HBOT kill cancer cells?
Current research indicates that hyperbaric oxygen does not kill cancer cells. However, there has been a small amount of research indicating that hyperbaric oxygen might reduce the size of certain tumors. Also, there has been a study on mice using hyperbaric oxygen, along with a ketogenic diet, to reduce tumors. Hyperbaric oxygen causes many different healing modalities to kick into gear. Could its effect on strengthening the immune system inhibit the growth of cancer cells? Nobody knows. There are numerous studies conclusively showing that hyperbaric oxygen does not encourage cancer cells or tumors to grow. Some patients claim the hyperbaric oxygen makes them feel a lot more comfortable and functional after chemotherapy and also during healing. Note that some chemotherapy drugs are not to be used with hyperbaric oxygen, as the chemotherapy drugs can be enhanced and thus become toxic. A good hyperbaric oxygen facility (such as Bay Area Hyperbarics) will always call the chemotherapy manufacturer to ensure that hyperbaric oxygen therapy will be helpful and not damaging to the patient.
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IWhat is the CPT code for HBOT?
The CPT code for HBOT is G0277.
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Does Medicare cover HBOT?
Medicare covers Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for approved conditions, and many insurance companies also cover approved conditions. If your condition is not approved by your insurance, we can discuss our special rates. Give us a call at (408) 356–7438. We are happy to discuss your options with you.
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Can HBOT help Neuropathy?
Hyperbaric treatments help heal neuropathy by regrowing small blood vessels and nerves that have died from disease, injuries from radiation and aging. Patients often experience numbness and or pain when they start treatment. Hyperbaric treatments most often bring back sensation and make, for example, walking easier and more enjoyable.
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Why would a physician consider HBOT?
A physician would consider using hyperbaric chamber therapy under a variety of situations. Physicians most typically refer patients to hyperbarics when the patient is not healing with traditional medical interventions and hyperbaric chamber therapy is approved by Medicare for this condition. Some patients experience significant unresolved pain and unremitting disease states that the mechanisms of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a hyperbaric chamber are known to affect, such as the down regulation of inflamatory genes. For an example, some patients have experienced severe, unremitting hives with itching, which did not improve with any specialists interventions. Some physicians will consider hyperbaric chamber therapy if the patient has no other good avenues for improving their failing health, and they know the hyperbaric chamber therapy is safe and will not harm the patient.
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What is Hypebaric Oxygen Therapy?
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HB0T) is a medical treatment where you inhale 100% oxygen in a chamber with increased atmospheric pressure. HBOT injects 400x the oxygen into your tissues and bones and mobilizes stem cells. It regrows healthy tissues in the brain, blood vessels, skin and bones. It also reduces pain and swelling, and speeds recovery. It is simple, effective and painless.
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