Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy: How It Can Support You During and After Treatment

Cancer treatment is tough on the whole body, and recovery afterwards can feel slow and unpredictable. At The Active Recovery Co (TARC), we look at safe, evidence-informed ways to support healing — and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is one option worth understanding.

What is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy?

HBOT involves breathing 100% oxygen in a pressurised chamber. The higher pressure lets more oxygen dissolve into your blood and reach tissues that may be under-oxygenated during or after treatment — giving your body more of the fuel it needs to repair and rebuild.

HBOT is already used in hospitals for wound healing, radiation injury, and certain infections, and is increasingly explored as a supportive therapy for cancer recovery.

Why Oxygen Matters in Recovery

Recovery relies on your body repairing tissue, reducing inflammation, restoring energy, and rebuilding strength — and oxygen is central to all of it. When tissue is stressed or damaged, it often isn't getting enough. HBOT floods the body with extra oxygen, which may support tissue repair, help new blood vessels form, ease swelling and inflammation, and support immune function.

Potential Benefits

HBOT isn't a magic fix, and results vary, but some people report:

• Improved wound and tissue healing — helpful for slow-healing areas, surgical scars, or radiation-affected tissue

• Support for radiation-related side effects — e.g. long-term changes in the jaw, pelvis, or bladder

• Reduced inflammation and discomfort

• Better energy and mental clarity

Research is still developing, and HBOT is best considered a supportive therapy — not a replacement for medical treatment.

Is It Safe?

Most people tolerate HBOT well, but it isn't right for everyone. Possible side effects include ear/sinus pressure (similar to flying), temporary tiredness or light-headedness, and — rarely — more serious complications.

Before starting, always:

• Speak with your oncology team or a specialist

• Use a properly regulated, experienced clinic

• Share your full medical history, including any lung, ear, or sinus issues

How HBOT Fits Into the TARC Approach

At TARC we focus on safe, progressive, personalised movement. If you're considering HBOT, we see it as a possible adjunct to targeted exercise and strength work, breathwork and pacing strategies, education on fatigue and pain, and lifestyle habits like sleep and stress management — supporting your bigger recovery picture, never replacing your medical team.

My Personal Experience

I have personal experience with HBOT — I used it throughout my own treatment and continue weekly sessions today, with over 110 treatments to date. If you're local, The Samson Centre in Guildford is an excellent facility to explore this therapy.

Questions to Ask Before You Start

• Is HBOT appropriate for my diagnosis and treatment history?

• What are the potential benefits and risks in my case?

• How many sessions are typically recommended, and over what timeframe?

• How will we measure whether it's helping?

• Are there reasons I should avoid it?

Final Thoughts

HBOT can sound high-tech and promising — for some it offers real benefit, for others it may not be the right fit. If you're navigating treatment or recovery and want support figuring out where therapies like HBOT fit, you don't have to work it out alone. Book a free 15-minute chat and we'll explore it together.