One of the interesting things about talking here is the difference in treatments. John's Oncologist [trained at MD Anderson] said NO to HBO for him when bone shards started presenting a problem because cancer cells were still present and it would exerbate their growth. Does anyone know for sure what the protocol is? Amy on the Ozarks

HBO is common and highly recommended by everyone that I have ever talked to. It speeds healing in a big way in radiated tissues.

Just a off hand comment on where people train. Every doctor has trained at some major cancer center, you can't get into practice without doing your time as an intern, etc. The question would be - since cancer treatments are constantly evolving, did he train there 6 months ago or 6 years ago? Everything changes in the research and treatment world so fast, that training at a particular institution means nada..... unless it was yesterday.

That being said, Brian - it doesn't answer the question that HBO can\will exacerbate the growth of cancer cells if they are present. Amy

Rochester Mayo In Minnesota has just put in HBO,chamber with high alitude chamber as well, after many years of debate, the old doctors seemed to say no the new doctors say yes.
When I was there there was a number of us with radiation damage to the teeth. Also helps open wounds. The only side affect I had was eye site went wacky but did come back. I also have a freind of mine 14 years survivor Had HBO 10 years ago. Same place I went. I think if there is a live cell in you after radiation, it will come back in time.

HBO treatments are FDA approved for the treatment of osteoradionecrosis. Of course this only occurs in radiated patients who have had cancer. It is also a protocol used by the NCI CCC's for complications of healing related to treatment.

Not every doctor out there is up to speed on everything. This is not possible since science changes daily. What we believed a year ago or 10 years ago, isn't necessarily true today in the course of treatments, complications and so much more.

Lastly, it is physically impossible to know if you have a cancer cell, or even a group of 100 of them active in your body. For that matter we all have cells that are going over to the dark side every day, and are being caught by our immune systems and destroyed. If you have an immortalized malignant cell left in your body, it is invulnerable to your immune system and over a period of time it will spin off daughter cells that share its malignant and immortalized nature. Eventually they will have a nice little colony of thousands of their own organized (tumor) and they will instruct your body to begin angiogenesis, which will create new blood vessels to bring them all the new blood supply they can take. That blood supply will of course be full of all the nutrients that our cells - malignant or not - need to live, oxygen being a core member of the family. Additional 02 isn't going to change this process a bit

About three weeks out from hyperbaric treatment and I have seen improvrements to my throat damage from my rad. treatment. Still can't eat because of not being able to swallow but the pain that has been in that area has decreased. Dr. went in two weeks ago and said that the raw friable tissue seems much better. Not spitting up blood and my teeth feel better.
Had 40 dives and lost my distance vision but it is slowly returning. Had to tubes puy in my ears because of the pressure but did well after. HBO doctor says that the blood flow increased from about 15 to 20% to 80 to 85% of pre rad.

David55

Hello,
Saw another dentist today who is referring me to a specialist. It seems I will def have to have some kind of reconstructive surgery again. I do not want to, I want tostabilize what I have. I am so frustrated. Still I have this tooth no one wants to touch because of cancer and radiation and who knows what else. I said to please send me to someone. He maybe will send me to Duke and they keep mentioning some dental guru in Florida. It is nice to know about the Hbo> NOT only will my originial doctors not refer me to anyone but they downplay the hbo as cancer causing. Thanks to Brian, I do see now that my doc has been in practice quite a long time. Very highly recommended but of the old school. So HBO is not the bad quy I thought. Boy, you have to find your way out of this maze sometimes by yourself and with friends(you guys) but not with the help of doctors!

Does anyone who posted have any updates on going thru HBO treatments? A few posts said they were about to begin treatment. I was told by my dentist and ENT HBO is something I will need to do before any major dental work.

I was wondering about the latest on HBO, too. I am most likely having a thyroidectomy in the next couple of months. My ENT said he would not undergo the surgery without HBO. When I asked my oncologist, he said they rarely prescribe HBO, and they are not certain it does any good.

I am supposed to have HBO starting next week. That is, if the insurance company stops dancing around and makes a decision...... IF and WHEN this actually starts I will provide an update.

Markus