HBOT for Chemo Brain: Can Hyperbaric Oxygen Improve Cognitive Function After Cancer Treatment?
Cancer is brutal—but the battle doesn’t always end when the treatment does.
For thousands of survivors in New York City and beyond, the shadow of chemotherapy lingers in unexpected ways. One of the most frustrating? Chemo brain—the foggy thinking, forgetfulness, trouble concentrating, and slowed processing that can last for months, even years, after treatment ends.
You beat cancer. But now you can’t remember why you walked into a room.
This post-cancer cognitive decline isn’t all in your head. It’s real. It’s common. And most importantly—it’s treatable.
Today, more and more cancer survivors are turning to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) to help clear the fog, restore clarity, and rebuild brain function that chemotherapy damaged.
What Is Chemo Brain, Really?
Chemo brain, also known as Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment (CRCI), affects up to 75% of patients during treatment, and roughly 35% long after treatment ends. It can feel like:
Memory lapses (names, dates, conversations)
Slower mental processing
Struggling to focus or multitask
Mental fatigue after short periods of thinking
Trouble finding the right words
Women undergoing treatment for breast cancer report these symptoms most frequently, but chemo brain has been documented across all cancer types and genders.
And yet—most survivors are told to just “give it time” or take another supplement.
That’s not enough.
How Chemotherapy Affects the Brain
Chemotherapy doesn’t only target tumors—it affects the vascular system, immune system, and nervous system, often leaving behind:
Inflammation in the brain (neuroinflammation)
Reduced blood flow to cognitive areas
Damaged mitochondria (the powerhouses of brain cells)
Oxidative stress, which can accelerate cognitive aging
The result? A brain that’s oxygen-deprived, inflamed, and unable to function at full speed.
This is where HBOT comes in.
How HBOT Helps Reverse Chemo Brain
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy involves breathing 100% oxygen in a sealed chamber at increased atmospheric pressure. At Halcyon Life, we use hard chambers up to 2.0 ATA, which means your blood plasma—not just your red blood cells—becomes saturated with oxygen.
This enhanced oxygen delivery is key to brain recovery.
Here’s what HBOT can do for chemo brain:
🧠 Restore oxygen flow to the brain, improving blood supply to areas affected by chemotherapy
🔬 Reduce neuroinflammation, calming the overactive immune response in brain tissue
⚡ Stimulate mitochondrial repair and ATP production, giving brain cells the energy to function again
🧪 Promote neuroplasticity, helping the brain form new neural pathways and recover lost function
The science is still emerging, but early results are promising—and the testimonials from survivors are powerful.
The Research Behind HBOT and Cognitive Recovery
Several studies have examined HBOT’s ability to improve brain function after neurological insult, including:
A 2013 study on stroke survivors that showed improved memory, attention, and executive function after 40 sessions of HBOT
A Tel Aviv University study demonstrating neurogenesis and white matter repair in individuals with brain trauma
Anecdotal evidence and case studies of breast cancer survivors regaining clarity and processing speed after HBOT protocols
While large-scale trials specific to chemo brain are still in development, the biological mechanisms are the same: oxygen supports brain healing.
What Recovery Feels Like: Brick by Brick
HBOT isn’t a quick fix. But for cancer survivors, it’s often the first time they feel like themselves again.
Clients report:
“The fog lifted.”
“I could focus on a conversation without zoning out.”
“I felt like my brain had power again.”
“It was the first time I felt clear since before chemo.”
It happens gradually—brick by brick, session by session—as the brain rebuilds itself in the presence of what it needs most: oxygen and time.
Why NYC Cancer Survivors Are Turning to Halcyon Life
New York is full of solutions that promise everything and deliver nothing. At Halcyon Life, we’ve built something different.
We are:
A small, independent HBOT facility
Using hard chamber technology (up to 2.0 ATA) for clinically relevant outcomes
Focused on care, integrity, and personal recovery
Accessible—without $500 price tags or medical gatekeeping
Our clients include survivors, caretakers, parents, professionals—people who’ve fought hard and deserve more than “wait and see.”
They deserve recovery.
Who HBOT for Cognitive Recovery Is For:
Cancer survivors experiencing chemo brain symptoms
People recovering from radiation, surgery, or long hospital stays
Individuals facing chronic fatigue, brain fog, or cognitive decline
Caregivers looking to help their loved ones regain a sense of self
HBOT won’t erase your cancer journey. But it can help you rebuild your life on the other side of it.
Want to Learn More?
Explore more about how HBOT supports cognitive health
or visit our first-time session guide to know what to expect.
If you’re ready to take the next step toward healing your brain and your life, book your first session here.