Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Cancer

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has been gaining attention in cancer support circles, often surrounded by a mix of promising stories, misunderstandings, and genuine scientific curiosity. If you’ve heard about HBOT and wondered whether it plays a role in cancer care, this guide breaks everything down clearly — including what’s proven, what’s not, and where it might help.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves breathing 100% medical-grade oxygen inside a pressurised chamber.
This creates a higher concentration of oxygen in the bloodstream, which can help the body repair and regenerate tissue.

HBOT is an FDA-cleared treatment for several conditions unrelated to cancer, including:

• Carbon monoxide poisoning

• Gas gangrene

• Diabetic foot ulcers

• Radiation-induced tissue damage

📚 Source:
• FDA: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-dont-be-misled

Short answer: No. HBOT does not treat or cure cancer.
There is no clinical evidence showing HBOT shrinks tumours, stops cancer growth, or replaces standard oncology treatments.

Large cancer organisations make this clear:

📚 Sources:
• National Cancer Institute (NCI): https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/hyperbaric
• Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy/about/pac-20394380

What HBOT does have evidence for is supportive care, especially for complications caused by cancer treatments.

Many patients explore HBOT because it is one of the best supported therapies for:

Radiation can damage healthy tissue long after cancer treatment ends. HBOT helps increase blood flow, support tissue healing, and reduce long-term complications.

HBOT is commonly used for:

• Osteoradionecrosis of the jaw

• Radiation cystitis

• Soft-tissue radionecrosis

• Pelvic radiation injury

• Persistent nonhealing wounds after radiation

📚 Source:
• Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) Indications: https://www.uhms.org/resources/hbo-indications.html

In cases where tissue has reduced blood flow — especially after radiation — HBOT may help support surgical recovery.

Areas being studied include:

• Fatigue

• “Chemo brain” or cognitive fog

• Pain

• General quality-of-life support

But research here is preliminary and not yet definitive.

You may have heard claims like:

“Cancer can’t survive in oxygen.”

This is incorrect and oversimplified.

Cancer cells behave differently:

• Some thrive in low-oxygen environments (hypoxia)

• Some survive perfectly well in normal oxygen

• Tumour biology is far more complex than the claims floating online

📚 Source on tumour hypoxia:
• National Library of Medicine: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23647565/

HBOT does not “oxygenate tumours to death” or replace medical oncology.

Although generally safe when used properly, HBOT can carry risks:

• Ear and sinus pressure

• Temporary vision changes

• Lung complications in certain patients

• Oxygen toxicity (rare but serious)

• Not suitable for some COPD patients or those with untreated pneumothorax

This is why on-site medical supervision is essential.

📚 Source:
• Mayo Clinic (Risks): https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy/about/pac-20394380

HBOT is worth discussing with a clinician if you are dealing with:

• Nonhealing tissue injuries after radiation

• Radiation-related dental, pelvic, urinary, or GI complications

• Wounds that struggle to heal after cancer surgery

For everything else — such as using HBOT instead of cancer treatments — it’s not supported by evidence.

If you’re curious about HBOT, have questions about safety, or want to understand whether it’s appropriate for your situation, you can contact the clinic practitioner here.
They can walk you through what HBOT is used for, what treatment looks like, and whether it aligns with your medical team’s plan.