What Researchers Did
Researchers conducted a prospective study with 21 oral or oropharyngeal cancer patients treated with radiotherapy to assess the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on quality of life, specifically xerostomia and related issues, over two years.
What They Found
Among the 21 patients, swallowing-related problems significantly decreased over time. Patients also reported a subjective increase in saliva quantity and an improvement in their sense of taste.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients undergoing radiotherapy for oral or oropharyngeal cancer who experience long-term side effects like xerostomia and swallowing difficulties might find hyperbaric oxygen therapy beneficial. This therapy could potentially improve their quality of life by alleviating these common and distressing sequelae.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
A limitation of this study is its small sample size of 21 patients and reliance on subjective patient reports for some outcomes.