Written By: Aileen Moradian, PhD, MSN-Ed., RNC-NIC, IBCLC, FMP-BC
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Recovery After Cancer Treatments: Insights and Benefits
Cancer therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation are life-saving, but they often leave behind lingering side effects that diminish quality of life. Oxygen-based pressurized therapy, commonly known as hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), is emerging as a valuable supportive option during recovery. By delivering high levels of oxygen under increased atmospheric pressure, this approach helps repair treatment-related tissue damage, reduces inflammation, and supports the body’s ability to restore function after intensive oncologic care.
Understanding the Impact of Radiation on Healing
While radiation effectively destroys tumor cells, it also injures surrounding healthy structures. Over time, this can result in fibrosis, vascular injury, and chronic hypoxia — a state where tissues are deprived of sufficient oxygen. Small blood vessels (capillaries) may be permanently impaired, leading to reduced circulation and fragile, slow-healing tissue.
Radiation side effects may include:
- Vascular injury – Endothelial damage and scarring reduce blood flow, creating chronic oxygen deprivation.
- Tissue breakdown – Poor circulation contributes to necrosis and non-healing wounds, often in the jaw (osteoradionecrosis), pelvic region, or soft tissues.
- Fibrosis and chronic inflammation – Long-term inflammatory signals stiffen tissue and impair normal function.
Without targeted intervention, these complications can progress into persistent wounds, recurrent infections, and long-term disability in cancer survivors.
How Oxygen Therapy Supports Post-Treatment Recovery
Hyperbaric therapy addresses the core problem of oxygen-deprived tissue. In the chamber, patients breathe concentrated oxygen at pressures typically around 2.0 ATA, which increases dissolved oxygen levels in the plasma up to 20 times above normal. This surge delivers oxygen deep into damaged tissues, stimulating the body’s own repair mechanisms.
Key benefits include:
- Neovascularization – Encourages new blood vessel growth, restoring circulation to damaged areas.
- Fibroblast activation & collagen synthesis – Supports skin, mucosal, and connective tissue repair.
- Reduced inflammation – Downregulates pro-inflammatory signals, easing pain and stiffness.
- Enhanced immune function – Improves the ability of white blood cells to fight infection in compromised tissues.
For complex complications like osteoradionecrosis, hyperbaric therapy is often paired with surgery to improve outcomes. It is also used in conditions such as radiation cystitis, pelvic tissue injury, and chronic ulcers following oncology treatment.
Understanding the Pathophysiology of Treatment Side Effects
Chemotherapy drugs circulate throughout the body to target and destroy malignant cells. Unfortunately, these agents also affect healthy tissues and organs, often resulting in bone marrow suppression, weakened immunity, and slowed recovery.
Many agents injure the delicate lining of blood vessels, impairing circulation and contributing to fatigue and delayed wound healing. One particularly frustrating complication for survivors is peripheral neuropathy, a nerve-related condition that causes pain, numbness, or tingling in the hands and feet. In addition, these therapies generate high levels of oxidative stress, flooding the body with free radicals and interfering with cellular repair. These effects may linger for months or even years, significantly impacting quality of life.
How Systemic Therapy Affects the Body (Compared to Radiation)
While radiation primarily causes localized tissue injury, chemotherapy tends to affect the body more broadly. Common side effects include:
- Bone marrow suppression – Decreased white blood cell production reduces immune defense and slows healing.
- Microvascular injury – Damage to small blood vessels impairs oxygen delivery and circulation.
- Peripheral neuropathy – Nerve damage leads to chronic discomfort, tingling, or loss of sensation.
- Systemic fatigue & oxidative stress – A state of imbalance that prolongs recovery and worsens exhaustion.
Supporting Recovery with Pressureized Hard Chamber Oxygen-Based Therapy
Emerging clinical evidence suggests that pressurized oxygen therapy may help counteract several long-term complications. By enhancing tissue oxygenation, it improves circulation, reduces inflammation, and supports cellular detoxification. Restoring oxygen balance allows for repair of microvascular injury and accelerates healing.
This therapy may also help normalize oxidative stress by supporting antioxidant defenses, reducing fatigue, and improving vitality. Importantly, preliminary studies and patient experiences indicate it may assist in nerve regeneration, easing discomfort from chemotherapy-induced neuropathy. Although oxygen chamber therapy is typically not provided during active treatment, many survivors pursue it afterward to regain strength, repair damaged tissue, and restore overall wellness.
Documented Benefits
- Improved tissue oxygenation – Corrects microvascular hypoxia, enhancing recovery.
- Oxidative stress reduction – Balances free radical activity and supports detox pathways.
- Nerve repair support – May improve outcomes for peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).
- Enhanced energy & resilience – Many patients report better stamina and day-to-day function.
Research Articles
Five‑Year Long-Term Results from the RICH‑ART Phase 2–3 Trial (2025)
A multicenter randomized controlled trial conducted across Nordic university hospitals (including Karolinska and Sahlgrenska) evaluated HBOT in patients with severe radiation-induced lower abdominal injuries—such as cystitis, bleeding, urinary incontinence, and pelvic pain. After 30–40 sessions at pressures equivalent to ~14 m below sea level, treated patients experienced markedly greater relief than controls. Notably, these improvements persisted over five years, demonstrating durable healing rather than temporary symptom control (Göteborgs universitet).
Meta‑Analysis of Hemorrhagic Cystitis (2022)
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 studies encompassing 556 patients with radiation‑induced hemorrhagic cystitis revealed that approximately 55% achieved complete remission of hematuria, with another ~35% achieving partial remission. (MDPI).
Practical Guidelines in Gynecologic Oncology (2025)
A science‑based guide published in mid‑2025 reinforced Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy 2.0 ATA as a usable therapy for late toxicities in gynecologic cancers—specifically radiation cystitis, proctitis, wound necrosis, and fistula formation. (ScienceDirect).
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