Radiation Related Tissue Damage

Delayed radiation complications are typically seen six months or more after therapeutic radiation therapy. However, they can develop many years later. These complications result from scarring and narrowing of the blood vessels.

Hyperbaric oxygen is the only treatment that has been shown in clinical trials to reverse the damaging affects of radiation. It has been used successfully for years in the treatment of these injuries. This therapy causes more oxygen to reach these damaged areas. This allows the tissue to grow new blood vessels and heal.

Radiation damage can occur anywhere in the body. Hyperbaric therapy is often used in patients who have had radiation to the head and neck area. This is to either to heal a wound or in anticipation of dental extractions. This helps to prevent serious complications that can occur when surgery is performed in an area which has been radiated.

Similar radiation damage can occur anywhere in the body that radiotherapy has been used to fight cancer. Radiation to the urinary bladder can cause pain and bleeding, and is called hemorrhagic cystitis. Radiation proctitis can occur when there is radiation to the area of the bowels. This can cause bleeding, pain, diarrhea and in some instances a fistula. This is a small hole in the bowel which can not heal. Any area of soft tissue (skin or muscle) or bone that has radiation related injury may benefit from hyperbaric therapy. There is also new evidence to support the use of hyperbaric therapy in patients with side effects from brain radiation.