Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a nationwide event that is held annually in October to increase awareness and support of breast cancer and breast cancer research. Emphasis is placed greatly on education, early detection screenings, and community support for those affected.

“Breast cancer has affected many of our lives, and the Yoakum Community Hospital Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Center is pledging to ‘Go Pink!’ in support of survivors and in honor of those who we have lost to this disease,” said Christi Jacobs, YCH Wound Care Nurse/HBO Technician.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, apart from skin cancers, with statistics showing that around 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Currently, there are more than 3.5 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S., including patients who are undergoing treatment and those who have completed it.

Breast cancer treatments have continued to improve throughout the years with support and research funding. The most common treatment methods are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Breast cancer treatment is comprehensive and includes a team of specialized surgeons and oncologists to help the patient receive the best care possible.

While treatments are often successful in eliminating breast cancer, they can have damaging effects later on. The YCH Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Center is committed to restoring health and improving the quality of life of cancer survivors. We specialize in treating non-healing wounds from surgery, compromised skin grafts or surgical flaps, and symptoms occurring as a result of radiation therapy.

One method used at our wound center is hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy. During the course of treatment, 100% pure oxygen is breathed inside a pressurized chamber, helping blood to carry more oxygen to organs and tissues. This therapy is indicated by the Underwater and Hyperbaric Medical Society as a treatment for a variety of cancer-related complications. These include non-healing wounds, compromised skin grafts or flaps, or soft tissue damage caused by radiation therapy.

HBO therapy works by increasing oxygen levels in damaged tissues, stimulating growth of new blood vessels, and enhancing immune cell function. These are all important factors that contribute to wound healing and increase overall quality of life in patients. Many studies and clinical trials have demonstrated the many benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in treating cancer-related complications.

If you or a loved one has a non-healing wound related to breast cancer or other cancer treatment, call the YCH Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Center at (877) 295-2273.