Cancer is a disease that affects millions of people worldwide and has taken many lives. It is a complex disease that requires a comprehensive treatment plan.

One of the latest cancer treatments that have gained popularity over the years is using oxygen as a form of therapy. This therapy aims to improve the oxygenation levels in the body to prevent and manage cancer. This article will explain why oxygen therapy is important in cancer treatment and how it works.

What is oxygen therapy?

Oxygen therapy is a medical process of administering extra oxygen to patients. It involves breathing in oxygen-rich air through a mask or nasal cannula.

Oxygen therapy helps improve the oxygen levels in the body, making it easier to breathe and invigorating the organs. This therapy is commonly used to treat respiratory illnesses, but it has also gained popularity as a complementary cancer treatment.

The relationship between oxygen and cancer

Oxygen plays an essential role in the body’s cellular functions. Cells require oxygen to generate energy and perform their respective tasks. However, cancer cells use a different metabolic pathway compared to normal cells.

They utilize glucose for energy, even in oxygen-rich environments, a process known as the Warburg effect. The metabolic shift by cancer cells causes hypoxia in the tumor environment, which promotes tumor growth and progression.

Hypoxia or low oxygen levels, also triggers angiogenesis, a process that leads to the formation of new blood vessels to supply nutrients and oxygen to the tumor. This process makes it difficult to treat and manage cancer.

Oxygen therapy and cancer treatment

Oxygen therapy helps improve oxygen levels in the body, treating hypoxia and counteracting the negative effects of angiogenesis. Oxygen therapy has been used in various cancer treatments, including:.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells. However, the therapy can cause hypoxia, making the cancer cells resistant.

Supplementing oxygen therapy in radiation therapy can help restore oxygen levels, make the tumor environment oxygen-rich, and increase the effectiveness of the radiation in killing cancer cells.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells.

Oxygen therapy can help enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy by making the tumor environment oxygen-rich and improving blood circulation to the tumor, making it easier for the drugs to reach cancer cells.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) uses high pressure to increase the oxygen concentration in the blood. It involves the use of a pressurized chamber that a patient enters to breathe in pure oxygen.

The therapy helps increase oxygen levels in the body, promotes the growth of new blood vessels, and enhances the effectiveness of cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy.

Oxygen therapy and cancer prevention

Oxygen therapy is also an effective cancer prevention technique. It helps prevent the development of tumors and cancers by increasing oxygen levels in the body, boosting the immune system, and lowering the hypoxic conditions that promote tumor growth.

The benefits of oxygen therapy in cancer treatment

The use of oxygen therapy in cancer treatment has several benefits, including:.

Improved immune system
Enhanced effectiveness of radiotherapy and chemotherapy
Faster healing of damaged cells and tissues
Improved breathing and lung function
Reduced fatigue and tiredness
Reduced pain and discomfort
Promoting the growth of new blood vessels
Reduced risk of cancer recurrence

The risks of oxygen therapy in cancer treatment

While oxygen therapy has numerous benefits, it also has some risks. One of the significant risks is oxygen toxicity. Oxygen toxicity occurs when a patient is exposed to high levels of oxygen for an extended period.

The condition can cause seizures, muscle twitches, dizziness, and breathing difficulties. However, the risks of oxygen toxicity are minimal when the therapy is administered by a licensed practitioner.

Conclusion

Oxygen therapy is an effective cancer treatment that helps improve oxygen levels in the body, counteracting the negative effects caused by hypoxia in cancer cells.

It enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, promotes the growth of new blood vessels, and improves the immune system. Oxygen therapy also helps prevent the development and recurrence of tumors and cancers. However, patients must consult with their oncologists before starting the therapy.