Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Compared With Standard Therapy in Treating Chronic Arm Lymphedema in Patients Who Have Undergone Radiation Therapy for Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• History of early breast cancer (T1-3, N0-1, M0)
• Prior breast surgery with or without axillary dissection
• Prior breast/chest wall radiotherapy with or without radiotherapy to the supraclavicular fossa and/or axilla, completed at least 2 years ago
• Arm lymphedema
• * At least 15% increase in arm volume
• No evidence of cancer recurrence
• Hormone receptor status:
• * Not specified
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age
• Over 18
• Sex
• Female or male
• Menopausal status
• Not specified
• Performance status
• Not specified
• Life expectancy
• Not specified
• Hematopoietic
• Not specified
• Hepatic
• Not specified
• Renal
• Not specified
• Pulmonary
• No chronic obstructive airway disease
• No bullous lung disease
• No acute or chronic pulmonary infection
• No uncontrolled asthma
• No untreated pneumothorax
• Other
• Physically and psychologically fit for HBO therapy
• No claustrophobia
• No epilepsy
• No eustachian tube dysfunction
• No recurrent attacks of vertigo
• No contraindication to MRI (e.g., intracranial ferrous material)
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy
• Not specified
• Endocrine therapy
• Not specified
• Radiotherapy
• See Disease Characteristics
• Surgery
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior ear operations
• Other
• No prior hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy, except as treatment for decompression illness