Radiation saves lives — but it can also leave lasting damage. HBOT reverses chronic hypoxia in irradiated tissue, helping cancer survivors heal from radiation cystitis, proctitis, osteoradionecrosis, and soft tissue necrosis.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Radiation Tissue Injury
UHMS Protocol
Typical treatment sessions
30-40
Prospective studies
Symptom improvement in proctitis
76-89%
Meta-analysis 2024
Response rate for radiation cystitis
80%+
SEER Data
Cancer survivors treated with radiation in the U.S.
3M+
How HBOT Reverses Radiation Damage
The fundamental problem in radiation-damaged tissue is chronic hypoxia. HBOT directly addresses this by dramatically increasing tissue oxygen levels — 10-15 times normal under pressure.
Over a series of treatments, HBOT stimulates angiogenesis — the growth of new blood vessels — permanently improving oxygen delivery to the damaged tissue.
Stem cell mobilization
Fibrosis reduction
New blood vessel growth
Tissue oxygen 8-10× higher
Progressive without intervention
Non-healing wounds, skin breakdown, and tissue necrosis in irradiated areas.
Most common serious late effect in H&N cancer
Bone death in irradiated fields — most commonly the mandible after head/neck cancer treatment.
5-20% of pelvic radiation patients
Rectal inflammation after radiation for prostate, cervical, or rectal cancer. Causes rectal bleeding, diarrhea, urgency.
2-11% of pelvic radiation patients
Chronic bladder inflammation following pelvic radiation. Causes blood in urine, urinary frequency, urgency, pain.
Radiation therapy targets cancer cells, but it also damages the blood vessels and normal tissue in the treatment field. Over time — months to years after treatment — this creates a progressive cycle of tissue hypoxia, fibrosis, and breakdown that's known as late radiation tissue injury (LRTI).
The irradiated tissue becomes chronically oxygen-starved. Normal healing can't occur. Patients develop bleeding, pain, ulceration, and tissue necrosis that conventional treatments often can't resolve.
What Is Late Radiation Tissue Injury?
Treatment frequency
5×/week
Total sessions
30-40
Session duration
90 min
Treatment pressure
2.0-2.4 ATA
Standard HBOT Protocol for LRTI
Treatment Protocol
Sources: J Clin Med 2024; Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2012
HBOT controlled bleeding in 84% of patients; durable freedom from hematuria in 96%
55% complete resolution of hematuria (95% CI 51-59%)
2024 meta-analysis: 89.9% of patients achieved symptom improvement
Radiation Cystitis
Sources: PMC 2024; StatPearls 2023; Undersea Hyperb Med 2022; ECHM Consensus 2017
Prophylactic HBOT reduces ORN risk after dental extraction in irradiated fields
RR 4.2 for wound breakdown prevention after ORN surgery
Cochrane Review: RR 1.3 for mucosal coverage (95% CI 1.1-1.6, NNT 5)
Osteoradionecrosis
Sources: Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016; Front Oncol 2023
Complete resolution of bleeding in 50-78% of refractory cases
Prospective study: 89% symptom alleviation, sustained at 6-12 months
Cochrane Review: RR 1.72 for improvement/cure (95% CI 1.0-2.9, NNT 5)
Radiation Proctitis
Clinical Evidence for Physicians
HBOT for radiation tissue injury is recognized by the UHMS, ECHM (Type 1 recommendation, Level B evidence), and is FDA-approved.
The window for HBOT intervention in acute traumatic ischemia is narrow. Earlier treatment correlates directly with better outcomes. Here's why timing matters:
Multidisciplinary Care Coordination
Soft tissue wounds
Plastic Surgery
Laryngeal necrosis
ENT / H&N Surgery
Osteoradionecrosis
Oral Surgery
Radiation proctitis
Gastroenterology
Radiation cystitis
Urology
Primary referral source
Radiation Oncology
Often, yes. HBOT addresses the underlying hypoxia that other treatments can't fix. Many of our patients have tried medications, cauterization, or formalin before HBOT — and still achieve significant improvement.
I've tried other treatments without success. Can HBOT still help?
Yes. Radiation tissue injury is FDA-approved and covered by Medicare and most commercial insurers. We verify your benefits before treatment.
Is HBOT covered by insurance for radiation injury?
If you received >50 Gy to your mandible, prophylactic HBOT significantly reduces your risk of osteoradionecrosis. The Marx protocol involves 20 pre-op + 10 post-op sessions for high-risk patients.
I'm having a tooth extracted from my irradiated jaw. Do I need HBOT?
HBOT is used for late radiation effects, typically after cancer treatment is complete. Extensive research shows no evidence that HBOT promotes cancer recurrence. We coordinate with your oncology team.
Will HBOT interfere with my ongoing cancer treatment?
There's no upper time limit. HBOT has helped patients decades after their original radiation therapy. Late radiation injury is progressive — even if symptoms appeared years ago, HBOT can still promote healing.
