Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 3

Oxygen therapy is commonly used as a supportive measure in cancer treatment, particularly to manage side effects like hypoxemia (low blood oxygen), which can result from certain cancers or their treatments (such as lung cancer, anemia from chemotherapy, or post-surgical complications). The primary scientific rationale is that supplemental oxygen alleviates symptoms related to insufficient oxygen delivery to tissues, improving patient comfort and quality of life. Clinical guidelines support the use of oxygen in cancer patients who are hypoxic, based on evidence that it can reduce breathlessness and improve oxygen saturation levels.

However, the use of oxygen to directly treat cancer or reduce side effects other than hypoxemia is not broadly supported by high-level evidence. Some preclinical studies have explored the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in enhancing the effectiveness of radiation therapy or reducing tissue damage, but results are mixed and not universally adopted in standard oncology practice. The mainstay use of oxygen in cancer care remains supportive and symptom-based, not as a direct anti-cancer therapy. The evidence rating of 3 reflects moderate support for its role in symptom management, but not for reducing all side effects or as a curative therapy.

References include guidelines from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and systematic reviews on palliative oxygen use in cancer patients.

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