Hello All,

Was going to begin HBC dives until my oncologist said HB therapy helps spread cancer cells. This goes against everything I've read but now I'm confused! I scheduled an appt for HBC and Vit C IV tomorrow because it seems like the oncologist was just not encouraging something they can't offer.

Thoughts?

Amy

There is much debate about HBO. Ive done it many times successfully and found it has helped me tremendously. If you havent done radiation then Im surprised you would need HBO as its usually for those OC patients who have compromised healing capabilities after rads.

Main OCF pages... HBO

Amy,

I'm confused - what are HBC dives/HB therapy? Are you referring to hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) or something different?

Many OC patients undergo HBOT (myself included) but it is typlicaly after radiation because of damage to your jaw bone and healing issues.

From what I've read HBOT is not recommended if you have (or may have) active cancer cells as it is believed that the increased oxygen feeds the cancer cells (which you don't want).

Who recommended this treatment?

As with Susan, I was also wondering who ordered HBOT, assuming HBC was meant the same, since the MO didn't recommend. I know it's used for many medical conditions and injuries, some which are controversial, as Christine mentioned, but it's expensive, and some insurances may not approve it for certain conditions, but it's usually approved by most to help prevent ORN, Osteoradionecrosis, with the Marx Protocol.

I've seen older studies in regards to wether HBOT can spread or cause cancer recurrence, basically from "angiogenesis." Newer reports say no, but most have a caveat that it hasn't "statistically" shown to cause recurrence, but further studies are needed. Some others say it's possible, and another said it actually reduced cancer recurrence.

Anyway, I had HBOT, twice. The first was in 2011, three months after I finished radiation to have a tooth extracted after a clear scan. HBOT was briefly interrupted halfway for a day or two after being hospitalized because I needed a blood transfusion. I don't think I respond well to oxidative stress, chemo and radiation included. The treatment knocked me out, and was like going to radiation treatment every day all over again, and would go home and sleep 4-5 hours after. About a month after I finished, I had a cancer recurrence. Wether the recurrence was related or not, it's not something I wanted to do again, and was always in the back of my mind.

The 2nd HBOT was in 2014 before I had all my teeth extracted, after waiting two years, since I was basically in continuous cancer treatment since my last time with several more recurrences, and all my newer doctors; Oral Surgeon, ENT, 2 Radiation Oncologists, 2 MO, all said I needed to have a clear scan, I actually had two, with no signs of cancer, before HBOT was done.

As mentioned, it knocked me out, maybe it helped briefly with trismus, but otherwise I felt no added benefit, and it didn't help prevent ORN, didn't help the lymphdemia, and it worsened my neuropathy, balance, tinnitus, and vision, but maybe some of the benefit was unseen, but the main reason it was done was to help prevent ORN.

Good luck.

Thank you Susan,

Thankfully my Mom is living in s very beautiful group home just minutes away from my house so I have the reassurance that she's in good hands. My gamily is visiting her until I heal more (i havent told her sbout thr cancer, thetes no point).I'm so sorry about your parents. You and I are in a special horrifying club with both parents suffering from that damn disease.

Did you find it almost painful when sensation begins to return to your tongue?

Thank you for the welcome and know I'm here for you too 😀

Amy

New level of pain today. I'm getting these sharp pains in my face, jaw, and neck. I think the nerves that were damaged are starting to heal but it really is excruciating. It feels like im being electrocuted. I'm even getting what seems like referred pain on my left shoulder. I've taken the meds today properly but it's even harder to drink water and stay hydrated because I have a sore throat on the side where he took a piece of my tongue. If I can possibly sleep I wake up with a total dry mouth and throat which hurts like crazy. This sucks!!!! I'm 8 days out of surgery and thought I would be seeing some improvement by now.

When will this improve?? Going insane!!!

Amy

Eight days is not long. For my tongue surgery I was in hospital for two and a half weeks. You obviously still need a lot of pain control medication. I found the pain would die down and then flare up again. After my last surgery I was fine during my last days in hospital and then had a major flare up of pain after I got home and had to go to A&E to get it sorted out. I was not taking my medication properly. One they explained how to take the meds I was fine and eventually of course I could come right off them. I'm talking 2 - 3 weeks.

Good luck!

Pathology is in. One node tested positive for cancer and it had erupted so I may or may not have cancer in my neck. Surgeon recommends chemo and radiation but I'm not sure I'm on board with this option since I could be compromising my immune system for no reason. The level of radiation would be less than if there was proof there was cancer.

Thoughts?

Amy

P.S. - I'm doing HBO treatments and Vitamin C IV three times per week

Gosh Amy, I am so sorry to hear you will need further treatment. Rads isnt easy but its doable, especially if your focus is on your intake.

Im still unsure what the reason behind your doing HBO is and how Vitamin C IVs will help. Ive never seen a patient going thru rads and doing HBO at the same time. There has been many articles about HBO not being used on patients who may have active cancer cells. Cancer loves oxygen and HBO is pure oxygen. Please talk to your physicians in depth about the HBO and your situation. Also talk to them about the Vitamin C IVs. Im not familiar with any of our members doing Vitamin C IVs in conjunction with HBO, rads and chemo. Certain vitamins will interfere with rads and chemo so make certain all your physicians are on the same page with everything you have going on. Having cancer is hard enough, you dont want to do anything to make it more difficult to treat.

If you havent had a second opinion you may want to seek one out. If you can go to a Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) all the better. All the specialists get together using a team based approach and discuss each individual to come up with the best treatment plan. Everyone works together to ensure there is no miscommunication. Even the patient is able to attend the tumor board meeting.

Best wishes with everything!

Hi Christine,

The HBO treatments are for wound healing and in combination with the Vit C IV's it actually helps stop cancerous growth. From everything I've read, cancer thrives in anaerobic environments, not oxygen rich environments. The Naturopathic clinic I use has been using HBO to treat cancer for years and years. High levels of Vit C have also been studied for its cancer fighting abilities. The HBO chamber helps "push" the Vit C into the cells.

I've also been to a Naturopath who is also an Oncologist and she also recommends HBO to help healing and fight cancer. I'm not just doing this because I'm ignorant. Ive gotten three opinions so far. I've read over and over about cancer dying in oxygen-rich environments. This forum is one of the first places I've seen the opposite but most people on here are not into trying anything but conventional treatment. I'm not on here to convince anyone or argue ,(don't have the energy for that anyway), I'm just looking for as many different perspectives, especially given the fact that I may be killing my immune system with chemo and radiation for nothing. Even my surgeon told me that i may not even have camcerous cells in my neck but the radiation itself could cause cancer, make me lose teeth, etc. I don't take this lightly and I'm not into just doing everything my surgeon tells me to. Doctors don't know everything.

Amy