Radiation Damage to the Abdomen
Radiation therapy used to treat tumors in the belly area can also kill healthy tissues, which causes damage and problems with organs in that part of the body. This includes inflammation of the intestines, rectum, and bladder, as well as scarring of tissues and damage to the blood vessels. Patients may experience symptoms like pain, bleeding, diarrhea, and trouble controlling their urine due to these radiation-related injuries. These injuries can last for a long time after the radiation treatments.
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Radiation therapy used to treat tumors in the belly area can also kill healthy tissues, which causes damage and problems with organs in that part of the body. This includes inflammation of the intestines, rectum, and bladder, as well as scarring of tissues and damage to the blood vessels. Patients may experience symptoms like pain, bleeding, diarrhea, and trouble controlling their urine due to these radiation-related injuries. These injuries can last for a long time after the radiation treatments.
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How Hyperbarics Helps
Can reduce long-term radiation damage to different parts of the body.
May prevent bone death in areas treated with radiation.
Helps reduce pain, symptoms, and improve quality of life after radiation treatment.
Generally has mild side effects.
Can make radiation therapy more effective against certain types of cancer.
What the Research Says
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy May Help Cancer Patients with Radiation Damage
Research shows that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is helpful to treat many problems caused by radiation therapy for cancer. Studies have found HBOT may reduce long-term radiation damage to different parts of the body, prevent bone death in areas treated with radiation, and make radiation therapy more effective against certain types of cancer. These findings are enough for many insurance companies to pay the cost of HBOT to help heal delayed radiation damage. Though more research is needed, HBOT may help manage side effects and potentially improve the effectiveness of radiation therapy in some patients.
Patient Experiences
Alice did not have the ability to focus or the dexterity to put on her own clothes until hyperbarics! With Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for Autism, Alice began reading chapter books for the first time in her life. She was able to button her blouses and sweaters for the first time without asking her mom to help. Her progress brought tears to our staff and to Alice's parents.
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Alice, 16
Gained the ability to read chapter books for the first time!
Alice did not have the ability to focus or the dexterity to put on her own clothes, until hyperbarics! With Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for Autism, Alice began reading chapter books for the first time in her life. She was able to button her blouses and sweaters for the first time without asking her mom to help. Her progress brought tears to our staff and to Alice's parents.
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Austin, 3
Said "I love you Mama" for the first time ever!
Austin rarely engaged and interacted with people and even more rarely spoke complete sentences! After several hyperbaric chamber sessions for his autism, Austin was able to interact verbally with other people. When he said "Mama, I love you" for the first time ever, his mother was elated, as was our staff. She brought Austin back for several additional treatments. Both his focus and interpersonal skills improved throughout his visits, and he began to interact with hyperbaric technicians during his visits.
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Trevor, 3
Began interacting with other children for the first time.
Trevor played on his own but simply did not play with other kids. After several hyperbaric chamber sessions for his autism, he picked up a ball, walked it back to his brother, and handed it to him. This was the first interactive play he had exhibited. Previously, Trevor might chase the ball, and he might pick it up. He would, however, never interact with a person. This behavior increased, and after additional HBOT sessions for autism, Trevor continued interacting more often and at a greater level of depth with family and eventually other people
Patients: Start with Hyperbarics
It's easy to start with Hyperbarics. Just follow these simple steps
1
Give Us A Call
Did a physician refer you? If so, they can download and fax us back a patient referral form. If not, our medical staff will discuss whether hyperbaric suits you.
2
We Talk With Your Insurance
Our medical staff contacts Medicare or private insurance to receive authorization and create a plan with you.
3
You Get On the Road to Recovery
We do a medical intake, explain everything you need to know, and get started on your hyperbaric oxygen anti-aging therapy sessions.
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Still looking for answers?
To learn more about HBOT, take a look at our FAQs.
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What is Hyperbaric Medicine?
Hyperbaric medicine, also called hyperbaric oxygen therapy or HBOT, is a medical treatment where a patient sits or lies in a pressurized chamber and breathes 100% oxygen. In HBOT, oxygen dissolves into the blood, thus raising the oxygen concentration to very high levels. This increased oxygen is a primary building block for tissues, muscle, and bone repair. Among other benefits, it kicks off cell reproduction, heals injuries and infections more rapidly, and decreases inflammation.
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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 that 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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What is the CPT code for HBOT?
The CPT code for HBOT is G0277.
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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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Will my insurance cover HBOT?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been proven to help with numerous medical conditions. Each insurance company decides what’s covered and what's not. That said, HBOT is covered by Medicare, Kaiser, Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, United Health Care, and many other insurances. Coverage is based on the diagnosis. We also take people with conditions that are not covered by their insurance but whose problems can greatly improve with HBOT. Call us! We are more than happy to look at your personal situation and do the insurance work for you.
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Why would a physician consider HBOT?
A physician would consider using hyperbaric chamber therapy in 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 downregulation of inflammatory genes. For example, some patients have experienced severe, unremitting hives with itching, which did not improve with any specialist 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 Hyperbaric 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 increases oxygenation by 1200% into your tissues, 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. 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 downregulation of inflammatory genes. For example, some patients have experienced severe, unremitting hives with itching, which did not improve with any specialist 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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