Since receiving radiation therapy for prostate cancer in 2019, Kenneth Micetich, MD, a retired oncologist from Maywood, has remained cancer-free.
However, in 2020, he began having episodes of blood in his urine, prompting him to visit his urologist.
“People who have received radiation to the pelvic area can sometimes sustain low-grade radiation damage to the lining of the urinary bladder,” explained Dr. Micetich. “After a cystoscopy, my urologist told me that I had radiation cystitis.”
Radiation cystitis is when new blood vessels are formed due to radiation exposure, as the bladder tries to heal itself. These new blood vessels can bleed easily.
Dr. Micetich experienced blood in his urine once a year for the first two years after his treatment, then twice a year the third year. The problem would typically resolve itself, but in fall 2024, he noticed he was bleeding more frequently.
When Dr. Micetich ended up in the emergency room due to significant blood loss and the formation of a blood clot that prevented him from urinating, his oncologist recommended hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).
After doing his due diligence, Dr. Micetich settled on Endeavor Health Edward Hospital for HBOT to treat his radiation cystitis.
“Hyperbaric oxygen therapy places patients in a high pressure oxygen environment,” explained Sumitha Panicker, MD, an internal medicine physician who specializes in hyperbaric medicine and wound care at Endeavor Health. “Inhaling 250% oxygen diffuses the oxygen that is in the blood into the tissue, which helps the body heal.”
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is approved by the FDA to treat a variety of issues, including wounds and skin grafts that are not healing, deep bone infections, and radiation injuries.
“Our bodies need oxygen for most processes, including healing,” said Dr. Panicker. “Oxygen powers our cells, and we need an increased amount of oxygen at a higher pressure to power a large number of cells for the healing process.”
While there are many different facilities that offer hyperbaric oxygen, many of them are not associated with hospitals. “Standalone isolated hyperbaric oxygen chambers often do not follow any safety guidelines, and they do it for a lot of non-FDA-approved issues,” said Dr. Panicker. “It’s a high pressure oxygen environment, so the risk is very high if you don't follow all safety protocols.”
Dr. Micetich is glad he chose Edward Hospital for his HBOT treatment. “It was a well-oiled machine with excellent patient education and an attentive staff,” he said. “I wanted a hospital-affiliated facility so I could be sure it was a safe environment.”
In addition to following strict safety protocols, Edward Hospital’s hyperbaric oxygen therapy facility is certified by the Undersea Hyperbaric Medical Society. That’s because patients are breathing 250% oxygen at roughly two and a half atmospheres of pressure, which is equivalent to a 45-foot dive underwater.
“They do a six-point safety check before you go into the hyperbaric oxygen chamber,” explained Dr. Micetich. “You cannot have a spark from static electricity in the chambers, so they have their own blankets and gowns approved for hyperbaric use and you can't take anything in there with you.”
The staff also check the patient’s ears and listen to their lungs before and after treatment, every day, to monitor for any potential issues due to the pressure.
“It’s quite a time commitment,” said Dr. Micetich. “I had 2-hour sessions Monday through Friday for 40 treatments over eight weeks.”
Dr. Micetich describes the substantial time commitment as the only downside of the treatment. But he did enjoy using the time to catch up on “Star Trek: the Next Generation” on a television placed just outside the chamber.
After completing hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Dr. Micetich had a couple of minor bleeding episodes, but nothing in the last few months. He says he’s happy with the results.
“If you have cancer, there are always side effects that can occur from the treatments, but there are fixes for these side effects,” said Dr. Micetich. “Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is very effective for radiation cystitis, and it’s nice to have a treatment that doesn't produce more problems.”
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