What Researchers Did
Researchers investigated the effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) for treating radiation-induced cystitis and proctitis in men who underwent prostate cancer irradiation.
What They Found
Among 18 men (median age 71) with radiation proctitis or cystitis, 16 completed an adequate number of HBO sessions (median 26). Significant improvement was observed in both gastrointestinal (P=0.004) and genitourinary (P=0.004) morbidity scores, with bleeding ceasing in 5 out of 5 proctitis patients and 6 out of 8 cystitis patients.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients experiencing severe radiation-induced bladder or bowel issues after prostate cancer treatment may find hyperbaric oxygen therapy a beneficial option. This treatment could offer relief for persistent symptoms like bleeding when standard therapies have not been successful.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it was conducted outside of Canada.
Study Limitations
The study's small sample size and lack of a control group limit the generalizability of its findings.