At Princeton Integrative Health, we believe that true healing is about more than just surviving—it’s about thriving. For many cancer patients, the end of treatment marks the beginning of a new chapter—but not always the one they expected. Long after their last round of radiation therapy, many continue to struggle with painful and disruptive symptoms that impact their daily lives.
What’s often missing in conventional post-cancer care is a solution for the lingering effects of radiation—particularly for individuals treated for cancers in the lower abdominal region, including the prostate, bladder, ovaries, cervix, uterus, and colon. While radiation therapy is an essential component in treating these cancers, it can also damage surrounding healthy tissues. And that damage may not reveal itself for months or even years after treatment ends.
Enter Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)—a profoundly restorative, non-invasive therapy offered here at Princeton Integrative Health. Backed by growing scientific evidence and clinical success stories, HBOT is changing lives by helping patients heal from long-term radiation injury and get back to living fully.
Radiation: The Unseen Aftershock
Radiation therapy remains a cornerstone in the treatment of many cancers. It works by targeting and destroying cancer cells through high-energy radiation, often with remarkable success. However, in the process, healthy tissue in the vicinity of the tumor can also be affected. Over time, this damage can result in what’s known as late radiation-induced injuries—chronic side effects that can appear months or even years later.
In our experience and as reflected in recent research, 5% to 10% of patients receiving pelvic or abdominal radiation go on to experience moderate to severe side effects. These include:
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Urinary incontinence or urgency
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Chronic pelvic pain or rectal pain
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Bleeding in the bladder or gastrointestinal tract
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Sexual dysfunction
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Abdominal pressure or discomfort
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Disruption to bowel function
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Fatigue and a reduced quality of life
These symptoms can be socially isolating and emotionally taxing. We’ve seen patients who are afraid to travel, unable to exercise, and reluctant to socialize—living in constant fear of a flare-up or needing immediate access to a restroom. Unfortunately, many are told these effects are permanent.
At PIH, we offer a different perspective—and a powerful solution.
The PIH Approach: Root-Cause Healing Through Oxygen
Our commitment to whole-body healing is at the heart of everything we do. We approach each patient as a unique individual with a story, not just a diagnosis. For those struggling with post-radiation injuries, our care team works collaboratively to uncover and address the underlying dysfunction—not just manage the symptoms.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is one of the most effective tools we use to support this healing process.
In HBOT, patients lie or sit comfortably inside a pressurized chamber where they breathe in 100% pure oxygen. This seemingly simple shift in environment creates a dramatic physiological response in the body. Under pressure, oxygen dissolves more readily into the blood plasma, reaching areas of the body that typically suffer from poor circulation or inflammation—exactly the kind of damage caused by radiation.
What Happens in a Hyperbaric Chamber?
Our state-of-the-art chamber at PIH is designed for comfort and safety. During a typical session, you’ll spend 90 minutes inside the chamber while breathing pure oxygen at increased atmospheric pressure—equivalent to diving to about 14 meters underwater.
Here’s what happens during that time:
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Oxygen levels in your bloodstream increase up to 10–15 times higher than normal.
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Damaged tissues receive a flood of healing oxygen, helping cells regenerate and promoting new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis).
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Chronic inflammation is reduced, and the immune system’s natural healing response is activated.
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New collagen and skin cell production is stimulated, essential for repairing tissue damage.
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Stem cell activity increases, supporting longer-term healing even after therapy ends.
This process allows tissues once considered permanently damaged to recover function, reduce pain, and regain resilience.
Science That Backs the Results
A recent multicenter study out of the University of Gothenburg and published in eClinicalMedicine tracked 70 adults who had experienced severe, chronic radiation-induced side effects. All had been treated for cancers in the pelvic region and were suffering from symptoms like incontinence, bleeding, and persistent pelvic pain. The study’s goal was to determine whether HBOT could provide lasting relief.
The findings were powerful.
Participants were divided into two groups—one receiving HBOT (30–40 sessions) and the other receiving standard care, including medication and physiotherapy. The HBOT group not only showed significant improvement in symptoms, but those improvements were sustained over a five-year follow-up period.
According to principal investigator Dr. Nicklas Oscarsson, “Patients who respond to treatment go from being very distressed by their symptoms and restricted by their need to have quick access to a toilet, to being able to live a fully normal life. Now we know that this pronounced improvement lasts for at least five years.”
At PIH, we’re witnessing these transformations every day.
Meet Our Patients: Stories of Real-Life Relief
One of our patients, “Marcia,” came to us two years after undergoing radiation therapy for ovarian cancer. She was cancer-free but living with constant urinary urgency, pelvic discomfort, and unpredictable bouts of bleeding. Travel was nearly impossible. Social engagements were filled with anxiety. After a consultation with our integrative care team, we introduced her to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.
After 36 sessions, Marcia reported sleeping through the night without needing to use the restroom for the first time in years. Her symptoms dramatically reduced, and her mood and energy lifted. Six months later, she took a long-awaited trip to Italy with her family—something she never thought possible again.
Stories like hers aren’t rare. They are the reason we do what we do.
Why Isn’t This More Commonly Prescribed?
One of the most frustrating realities is that many patients suffering from radiation-induced injuries are never told about HBOT. Despite being FDA-approved for several conditions and used worldwide for decades, HBOT is still underutilized in post-cancer recovery protocols.
At PIH, we’re on a mission to change that.
Our medical team actively collaborates with referring oncologists, urologists, and gastroenterologists to raise awareness of HBOT’s benefits. And because we operate within a functional medicine framework, we go beyond HBOT to ensure that each patient receives holistic care—including nutrition, detoxification support, stress reduction strategies, and lifestyle interventions.
The Bigger Picture: Expanding What’s Possible in Cancer Recovery
Radiation side effects aren’t just an inconvenience—they’re one of the major limitations in how much radiation a patient can safely receive. That means when we can minimize or reverse these effects, we can also expand the possibilities for treating more aggressive cancers more effectively.
Researchers are now exploring whether early intervention with HBOT—right after radiation therapy—is even more effective in preventing long-term damage from forming in the first place. Early results are promising, and at PIH, we remain committed to integrating these insights into our evolving protocols.
Who’s a Good Candidate for HBOT?
At Princeton Integrative Health, our team will conduct a comprehensive intake to determine if HBOT is right for you. Ideal candidates include:
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Cancer survivors who have undergone radiation therapy to the pelvis, abdomen, or lower spine
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Individuals experiencing chronic symptoms such as bleeding, pain, urgency, or incontinence
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Patients with delayed wound healing, surgical complications, or ongoing inflammation
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Individuals cleared by their oncology team and no longer undergoing active treatment
If you’re unsure, we invite you to schedule a consultation with one of our integrative health specialists. We’ll listen to your story, review your medical history, and create a personalized plan to help you move forward.
What to Expect at PIH
From the moment you walk into Princeton Integrative Health, our focus is on you. Our serene, healing space is designed to be a far cry from the sterile feel of conventional clinics. Here’s what your HBOT journey with us might look like:
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Initial Consultation – Meet with a member of our clinical team to discuss your history and goals.
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Medical Clearance – We’ll ensure it’s safe and appropriate for you to receive HBOT.
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Personalized Protocol – Most patients begin with 10–20 sessions.
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Ongoing Support – You’ll have access to integrative nutrition, health coaching, detox support, and lifestyle education to maximize your healing.
Our HBOT chambers are comfortable and spacious, and many patients find the sessions relaxing—using the time to meditate, listen to music, or simply rest.
A New Era of Healing
At Princeton Integrative Health, we believe in giving patients the tools and support to not just heal—but to thrive. We see HBOT as part of a broader philosophy of root-cause, patient-first care that honors the body’s incredible ability to repair when given the right environment.
Cancer may be part of your story, but it doesn’t have to define your future. If you’re living with the lingering effects of radiation therapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy might just be the key to reclaiming your life.
Ready to Learn More?
If you or a loved one are navigating life after cancer and struggling with radiation-induced side effects, we invite you to reach out.
