Alternative Cancer Treatments - Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Bianca Tavares
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is a treatment which essentially involves
providing the body with extra oxygen. The word 'Hyper' means
'increased' and 'Baric' refers to pressure. As we all know, Oxygen is
one of the gases in the air that we breathe and is essential for life.
The air that we breathe normally contains 21% oxygen. Breathing in 100%
oxygen under increased pressure within a hyperbaric chamber allows
extra oxygen to be forced into the blood stream and dissolved at a much
faster rate than if pressure was not used. Another effect is the
increased oxygen transport capacity of the blood. Under atmospheric
pressure, oxygen transport is limited by the oxygen binding capacity of
hemoglobin in red blood cells, which almost reaches saturation at
atmospheric pressure, very little oxygen being transported by plasma.
However Oxygen transport by plasma is significantly increased under HBO
therapy. This extra oxygen can help where healing is retarded due to
infection or limited blood supply through tissue damage.
Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy:
- HBO facilitates the growth of new blood vessels, enabling the
transport of additional blood;
- HBO augments the body's natural defense mechanisms to fight infection
and kill bacteria;
- HBO helps reduce any swelling that may occur around an area subjected
to radiotherapy.
The treatment is normally pain free and is carried out in
specially-designed chambers known as "hyperbaric chambers". There are
two basic types of chamber: monoplace chambers and a multiplace
chambers.
A monoplace hyperbaric chamber for treating one person at a time and
involves the patient lying on a padded stretcher that is then slid into
a clear plastic chamber about 2ft in width. Once inside, the door is
closed and the chamber is pressurized.
Multiplace hyperbaric chambers can treat several people at a time. The
multiplace chamber is the type most frequently used. These chambers are
big enough to accommodate sometimes as many as a dozen patients at a
time and it is possible to walk into them. Patients either sit on
benches or lie inside these chambers. 100% pure oxygen is administered
via either a mask or a clear plastic hood. HBO sessions usually last
from one to three hours depending on the nature of the treatment
program. Treatment sessions within the hyperbaric chamber are normally
repeated over several days or even weeks.
HBO therapy is increasingly being used for helping patients who have
been subjected to conventional radiotherapy treatment for cancer and
are now suffering the after-effects. A major problem with radiotherapy
is that, since it not only kills cancer cells but also nearby healthy
cells at the same time, it can cause changes in the oxygen supply to
tissues in the treated area, since less blood is supplied to the area.
The result is that it becomes more difficult oxygen and essential
nutrients to reach the tissues. Over a period of time these tissues can
become very fragile, break down and ulcerate. Sometimes tissue can even
completely die (radiation necrosis).
Studies indicate that HBO therapy can be effective in the following
conditions:
- Chronic lymphoedema in breast cancer;
- Chronic radiation cystitis;
- Pelvic cancer;
- Bowel cancer;
- Prostate cancer;
- Osteoradionecrosis;
- Chronic radiation proctitis;
- Acute blood loss anemia
I hope that this brief article on Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy has
provided a brief insight into the importance of oxygen in the correct
functioning of the body, plus its role not only in the treatment of
cancer but also how it can be used in overcoming some of the serious
adverse side effects of conventional cancer treatments. Perhaps it will
encourage you to further investigate this fascinating subject. As
always, you should seek the guidance of a professional medical
fractioned before taking any medications or undergoing any form of
therapy.
Dr. Tavares is a medical consultant experienced in both traditional and
complementary medicine. Her writing about prostate cancer can be found
at http://www.prostate-cancer-answers.info and her alternative health
blog can be viewed at
http://alternative-cancer-therapies.blogspot.com
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