Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy at our London Clinic
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, usually shortened to HBOT, involves breathing oxygen at greater than normal atmospheric pressure inside a sealed chamber. The pressure allows considerably more oxygen to dissolve into the blood than breathing air at sea level, and that raised oxygen level reaches tissues where the normal blood supply has been damaged or reduced. We are introducing HBOT at our Tower Bridge clinic as part of our integrative support for cancer patients, particularly those living with the longer-term effects of radiotherapy.
- Consultant-assessed, individually planned
- Tower Bridge Road, London
GMC-Registered Doctors
Research-Backed Protocols
Tailored to Your Diagnosis
CQC-Regulated Clinic
Our hyperbaric chamber is being installed at our Tower Bridge clinic. Register your interest below and we will contact you as soon as appointments are available.
Who Is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Suitable For?
We expect HBOT at our clinic to be most relevant to patients living with the longer-term effects of radiotherapy on healthy tissue — particularly those diagnosed with osteoradionecrosis or soft tissue radionecrosis, and those considering dental or surgical work in a previously irradiated area.
Suitability is assessed individually. Dr Saskia will review your diagnosis, your radiotherapy history and your current clinical picture, and will correspond with your treating team before any course begins. HBOT is not suitable for everyone, and some lung conditions and recent surgery rule it out.
Our clinical team specialises in integrative cancer care. Every member understands the unique needs of cancer patients and stays up to date with the latest research so that your protocol reflects current best practice.
Treatment takes place at our clinic on Tower Bridge Road in central London. HBOT requires a fixed chamber and cannot be delivered at home.
You will be able to sit or lie comfortably inside the chamber and speak to the operator throughout the session.
Sessions typically last between 60 and 120 minutes. Courses for radiation injury usually involve a substantial number of sessions rather than one or two.
What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves breathing oxygen at greater than normal atmospheric pressure inside a sealed chamber. At sea level, the blood carries only as much oxygen as haemoglobin can hold. Under pressure, considerably more oxygen dissolves directly into the blood plasma, and that raises the amount reaching tissues where the normal blood supply has been damaged or reduced.
The therapy has been in clinical use for decades, originally for decompression sickness in divers. Its accepted indications now include carbon monoxide poisoning, certain non-healing wounds, and delayed radiation injury to soft tissue and bone.
It is that last group we are introducing HBOT for. Radiotherapy is effective, but it changes the tissue it passes through. In a minority of patients, months or years after treatment finishes, the blood supply to irradiated tissue becomes progressively poorer. The tissue is left low in oxygen, poorly supplied with blood vessels, and slow to heal. Depending on where the radiotherapy was directed, this can affect bone, skin, the bladder or the bowel.
HBOT is used in this setting to raise oxygen levels in the affected tissue and encourage the growth of new blood vessels. It is one of the accepted indications recognised by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, and NICE has reviewed its use for osteoradionecrosis and late radiation tissue injury, acknowledging potential benefit in selected patients while noting that better quality evidence is still needed.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has a clear and specific role in cancer care. It is not a treatment for cancer, and we do not offer it as one. What it can do, for some patients, is help tissue that radiotherapy has left poorly supplied with blood and slow to heal. That is a narrow indication, but for the patients it applies to it matters a great deal.
Contact us for a free consultation.
Mon – Fri 9:00am – 6:00pm
- 185 Tower Bridge Road, London
How is hyperbaric oxygen therapy carried out?
Your safety is our priority throughout every session. Our team will explain each stage before you begin, and you will be able to speak to the operator at any point during treatment.
Treatment takes place inside a sealed chamber. You will be able to sit or lie comfortably while the pressure is gradually increased, then breathe oxygen for the treatment period before the pressure is slowly returned to normal.
The main sensation is pressure in the ears during the pressurisation and depressurisation phases, similar to a plane descending. You will be shown how to equalise before you start.
Sessions typically last between 60 and 120 minutes. Courses for radiation injury usually involve a substantial number of sessions over several weeks rather than one or two appointments.
Temporary short-sightedness is a recognised effect of a course of HBOT and usually settles within weeks of finishing. Our team will go through the full list of risks and contraindications with you before you begin.
What HBOT Is Used For
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not a treatment for cancer. We are introducing it for a specific set of indications, all relating to the longer-term effects of radiotherapy on healthy tissue.
Osteoradionecrosis
Radiation damage to bone, most often in the jaw following head and neck radiotherapy. One of the accepted indications for HBOT.
Soft Tissue Radionecrosis
Skin and underlying tissue left poorly supplied with blood after radiotherapy, and slow to heal as a result.
Before Dental or Surgical Work
Where a procedure is planned in an area that has previously been irradiated and healing is expected to be poor.
Radiation Cystitis and Proctitis
Late radiation effects on the bladder or bowel following pelvic radiotherapy.
Alongside Your Hospital Team
We do not work in place of your oncology or maxillofacial team. With your consent, your protocol is shared with them.
Assessed Individually
HBOT is not suitable for everyone. Some lung conditions and recent surgery rule it out, and we will tell you plainly if it is not right for you.
Risks and side effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy
HBOT is well tolerated by most people, but it is not suitable for everyone and it carries specific risks. We will go through all of these with you before you begin.
Ear pressure
The most common effect, felt during pressurisation and depressurisation. You will be shown how to equalise before your first session.
Temporary short-sightedness
A recognised effect of a course of HBOT. It usually settles within weeks of finishing treatment.
Fatigue
Some patients feel tired after a session, usually resolving within a day.
Not suitable for everyone
Some lung conditions and recent surgery rule HBOT out. Suitability is assessed before any course begins.
Before starting HBOT, our team reviews your full medical history and current hospital treatment to confirm this is the right therapy for you. We will explain what to expect before, during and after your sessions, and will tell you if HBOT is not appropriate in your case.
Research on hyperbaric oxygen therapy for radiation injury
If you would like to read more about the evidence behind HBOT for late radiation tissue injury, the following sources set out the current position:
- Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society — Indications for Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy — delayed radiation injury to soft tissue and bone is listed among the accepted indications for HBOT.
- NICE Interventional Procedures Guidance — NICE has reviewed HBOT for osteoradionecrosis and late radiation tissue injury, acknowledging potential benefit in selected patients while noting that further high-quality evidence is needed.
- NHS England clinical commissioning policy — NHS England reviewed HBOT for soft tissue radiation damage following pelvic radiotherapy and concluded there was not enough evidence to commission it routinely. Access is generally through individual funding requests or specialist referral.
- Cochrane review — hyperbaric oxygen therapy for late radiation tissue injury — found moderate-quality evidence of improved mucosal coverage in osteoradionecrosis, and a reduced chance of wound breakdown following surgery for osteoradionecrosis.
Register your interest in hyperbaric oxygen therapy
Our hyperbaric chamber is being installed at our Tower Bridge clinic. If you would like to be contacted when appointments open, leave your details below. Registering places you under no obligation, and we will not add you to a marketing list. If you would prefer to speak to someone first, our Medical Advisory Team work closely with our lead consultant Dr Saskia Kloppenburg and can talk through whether HBOT is likely to be relevant to your situation.
