Radiation therapy can be life-saving, but for some patients, its effects linger long after cancer is in remission. This was the case for Stephan Tschida, a 68-year-old male who developed delayed radiation side effects following prostate cancer treatment. He turned to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) to find relief—and experienced a remarkable recovery.

CASE STUDY: 

Patient Age: 68

Gender: Male 

Presentation: Referred for treatment due to delayed effects of radiation, including radiation cystitis.

Health History: Patient was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December 2022. He completed 8 weeks of external beam radiation to the pelvis in 2023 and entered remission. Later that year, he developed symptoms consistent with radiation cystitis and other late effects of radiation.

Personalized Treatment Protocol: 40 Sessions of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Patient Outcome: Patient had an excellent response to HBOT. All radiation-related symptoms resolved. According to Dr. Alfred:

“He had an amazing response! In addition to his radiation symptoms resolving, he now plays tennis for 3 hours at a time.”

The patient was extremely satisfied with his care and shared a glowing review on Google.

Stephen pictured here with our hyperbaric technician, Ivan Page, at HMS Miami.

Notes from the clinical team at HMS: 

Prostate Cancer & Radiation Tissue Damage
Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death among men worldwide. Treatment options vary, but many patients undergo external beam radiation therapy to target cancerous cells in the pelvic region.

While effective, radiation can cause long-term damage to healthy tissue, sometimes surfacing months or even years after treatment. In the case of pelvic radiation, this may lead to complications such as:

• Hematuria (blood in the urine)
• Hemorrhage
• Increased urinary frequency or urgency
• Incontinence
• Dysuria (painful or difficult urination)
• Erectile dysfunction
• Non-healing wounds
• Fibrosis
• Chronic inflammation and swelling
• Tissue hypoxia (oxygen deprivation)

These delayed effects are collectively known as radiation-induced tissue injury and can significantly reduce a patient’s quality of life.

The Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is an evidence-based treatment for radiation tissue damage. By delivering 100% oxygen at increased atmospheric pressure, HBOT promotes:

• Angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels)
• Enhanced tissue oxygenation
• Stem cell recruitment and proliferation
• Leukocyte oxidative killing (boosting immune response)
• Collagen synthesis and tissue regeneration

HBOT also has powerful anti-inflammatory effects, which help reduce swelling, reverse ischemia (restricted blood flow), and alleviate symptoms like hematuria and dysuria. In patients with radiation cystitis, HBOT has been shown to restore bladder integrity and improve overall urinary function.

Clinical Evidence:

 Long-term Incidence of Hematuria, Urethral Stricture and Bladder Cancer after Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer 

 Hyperbaric oxygen treatment of chronic refractory radiation proctitis: a randomized and controlled double-blind crossover trial with long-term follow-up