Metastatic lung and bladder cancer and HBOT

Two years ago, at the age of 68, I was diagnosed with bladder cancer. During the year 2024, I underwent both surgery and radiotherapy to treat the disease. Later, in January 2025, further tests revealed metastatic lung cancer, which was classed as incurable. Hearing those words was devastating. I was told that to stabilise my condition, treatment needed to begin immediately.

In August 2024, after two surgeries that attempted to remove all evidence of bladder cancer, the situation remained serious. The cancer was muscle-invasive, and my consultant initially recommended bladder removal. After careful consideration, I decided against the removal surgery and chose to proceed with radiotherapy and Carbogen treatment alone. Thankfully, this treatment successfully destroyed the cancer cells in my bladder, and I later received the all-clear.

Because I also live with a heart condition, chemotherapy was considered too risky at that time, as it could place significant strain on my heart. However, after further scans showed the cancer had spread to my lungs, chemotherapy eventually became necessary despite the risks.

While preparing for this stage of treatment, a friend introduced me to hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) at a centre in Manchester called Oxychai. Intrigued by their personal experience, I began researching about HBOT and found out that research shows HBOT, alongside chemotherapy, makes the treatment more effective and targeted and lessens side effects. I also learned that existing clinical studies suggest potential benefits for healing radiotherapy-related tissue injury, supporting surgical recovery, and improving oxygen delivery throughout the body.

When the time came to begin chemotherapy, I decided to combine it with HBOT at Oxychai. To date, I have completed 112 sessions. From my own experience and personal research, I felt that increased oxygenation supported my recovery and helped me cope with treatment. Inside the hyperbaric chamber, you breathe pressurised 100% oxygen, and I found that this enhanced my energy levels and reduced some of the early side effects I had been warned about. For example, I did not experience nausea during my initial rounds of chemotherapy, and I was even able to cycle to and from my home to Oxychai — something that reassured me that the therapy was helping me manage fatigue.

To anyone who may feel nervous about spending 90 minutes inside the chamber, I can honestly say that the initial anxiety faded quickly. The team at Oxychai were incredibly supportive, helping to ease any worries about claustrophobia. Over time, I became fully committed to incorporating HBOT into my treatment routine as part of my wider effort to fight cancer.

A particularly meaningful part of this journey has been the people I’ve met at Oxychai — others living with cancer who, like me, are navigating uncertainty with courage. We’ve shared experiences, supported each other, and formed friendships that I deeply value.

Throughout my treatment at The Christie Hospital, I kept my doctors informed about the benefits I felt I was experiencing from HBOT. I’ve sensed growing interest in the therapy’s research and outcomes, and I truly hope that one day it may become available through the NHS.

As I prepare to begin immunotherapy in the coming weeks, I am planning to restart HBOT alongside it. Currently, my last CT scan showed the cancer has been eradicated except for the one nodule in my left lung, which I hope the immunotherapy will take away.

I am deeply grateful to the team at Oxychai and to the Dafner family, whose dedication keeps this remarkable centre running. Their kindness and commitment have further made me proud to be Jewish and proud to be part of such a forward-thinking community.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has supported me physically, but it has also given me renewed hope, strength, and purpose. I can only speak from my own experience, but for anyone going through cancer, HBOT is definitely worth exploring.

Anonymous

Manchester