News from Larry Tart, a USAFSS legend!

During my last prostate status update in early September, 2007, I pointed out that I am experiencing the aftermath of radiation damage to my bladder and colon/rectum -- side effects of radiating the prostate to eliminate prostate cancer. It wiped out the cancer, but the radiation caused an overactive bladder and spasmodic bowel/rectum -- conditions generally perceived to be irreversible. My urologist and gastroenterologist are providing me with medications that treat the symptoms -- very frequent trips to the bathroom to satisfy valid and / or perceived urges to empty the bladder and rectum. However, neither my doctors nor my own research of medical info online (Mayo Clinic, Johns-Hopkins, and others) identify any curative medical ways to restore functionality to a bladder or colon/rectum that has suffered radiation damage. Radiation -- inadvertent or otherwise -- kills capillaries and veins in affected tissue, robbing irradiated areas of nourishment brought to the cells by blood vessels.

My situation was somewhat depressing and the future gloomy until fate entered the picture. I had befriended Dr Caroline Fife during the induction of her father, retired Air Force Colonel William Fife, into the Air Intelligence Agency Hall of Honor in September 2006. An incidental E-Mail from Dr Fife on 17 September was akin to a miracle -- my eyes welled up as I read her message:

"As you were extremely frank with regard to your health problems, I will mention that one of the main things I spend my time treating is hemorrhagic cystitis due to the effects of radiation from prostate cancer. About 70% of the patients I treat in our hyperbaric chamber from month to month are referred from MD Anderson for this reason (including females with cystitis after uterine radiation, and proctitis in both males and females). A0 Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a very time consuming treatment, at least 2 hours per day, 5 days per week for 30 to 60 treatments, but the results can be dramatic."

I had known that Caroline was an MD and a professor at the University of Houston Medical Center, but did not know about her involvement in hyperbaric medicine. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) involves breathing 100 % oxygen under pressure in a pressure chamber. The 100 % oxygen under pressure nourishes the radiation-damaged tissues, resulting in the regeneration of new capillaries and veins that in turn restore the functions of the affected bladder and colon/rectum. Perhaps best known as a treatment for divers who have problems with "bends," HBOT is now used to treat many illnesses and medical conditions. Dr Fife offered to assist me in obtaining HBOT by locating a center in our area that would provide the HBOT.

Learning that she had trained at the Duke Hyperbaric Medical Center in NC, I set up a consultation with the Duke center and initially intended to obtain the treatment at Duke. However, in researching HBOT on the internet, I googled* "hyperbaric, destin" and learned that Hyperbaric Medicine, Inc., of Destin, Florida offered HBOT -- a perfect match for me since Diane and I were already planning to spend the winter (our 8th snowbirding season) in Destin. We arrived in Destin on 11 October, and I met with Dr Zant on 18 October. He is confident that HBOT will resolve my bladder and colon/rectum radiation damage problems. I am likewise very optimistic. The effectiveness of HBOT in repairing radiation-damaged organs is somewhat validated by Medicare paying for the procedure. Medicare and Tricare for Life are picking up the tab for my HBOT care here in Destin. We have started what I consider to be a miracle cure. (I have dived) in the chamber ... to 33 feet-equivalent atmosphere ... and breathed 100% oxygen for 30 minutes. This initial session was a get acquainted trial run to determine how well I would adapt to HBOT and to give me a feel for the daily routines that lie ahead. The hyperbaric chamber is a glass (or plastic) enclosure, so I get to watch TV (or video tape or DVD) on a wall-mounted monitor at the foot of the chamber while relaxing on my back in the chamber. Diane watched and chatted with me by interphone during part of the session and took a few photos. I experienced absolutely no problems with the treatment, and Diane and I had lunch at the "Cancun," our favorite Mexican restaurant about a mile from our rental condo after the session. I will have daily sessions (Mon-Friday) consisting of breathing 100 % oxygen at 45' atmospheric depth for three 30-minute periods. The first and second 30-minute pure oxygen periods are separated by a five minute segment during which I breath regular air (about 21 % oxygen/79 % nitrogen) -- a precaution against oxygen toxicity. Each daily session lasts about two hours total, and I will be doing 40 sessions initially. Historic data indicate that the patient detects little change during the first 20 sessions -- as the pressurized oxygen regenerates capillaries and veins. After the 40th session, if I am not cured, we will do 20 additional sessions. My goal is to have normal bladder and colon functions by Christmas. Thinking positive and looking forward to our best Christmas season ever!

Larry Tart

P.S. Feel free to share this information with others who might have interest. in and/or a need for hyperbaric medicine.

*Anyone can go to http://google.com, type in    hyperbaric   alone, or plus the name of a major city, to determine its availability in your area. Medicare and veterans's insurance should have details, as well. An example is........

hyperbaric +"fort worth" +prostrate

hyperbaric +dallas +prostrate

hyperbaric +phoenix +prostrate

hyperbaric +"oklahoma city" +prostrate

Use the quotation marks when the city has two names, like "Fort Worth". Use all lower case.