What Researchers Did
Researchers assessed the efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in seven patients with radiation-induced haemorrhagic cystitis between February 1997 and April 2004.
What They Found
Haematuria resolved completely in all seven patients shortly after receiving a mean of 30 hyperbaric oxygen treatments. While one patient died from cancer complications and two experienced recurrence, re-treatment successfully resolved the bleeding, demonstrating long-term remission is possible for most.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients suffering from radiation-induced haemorrhagic cystitis might consider hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an effective treatment option, even if standard regimens have failed. This therapy appears well-tolerated and can provide long-term relief, with re-treatment being effective for recurrent bleeding.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A significant limitation of this study is its very small sample size of only seven patients, which limits the generalizability of the findings.