Woman Heals from Cancer Surgery with Oxygen Therapy

Barb Rasmussen faced an unexpected setback after beating breast cancer twice. When her mastectomy wound refused to heal a month after surgery, doctors discovered the real culprit: radiation damage from four years earlier had weakened her tissue's ability to repair itself.

The 67-year-old from Fargo had one goal in mind. She wanted to swim in the Arizona pool she'd rented for her November vacation, and nothing was going to stop her.

Her oncologist introduced her to hyperbaric medicine, a treatment that delivers pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber. The extra oxygen floods the bloodstream and reaches damaged areas that struggle to heal on their own.

Rasmussen admits her first visit in August 2025 sparked serious doubts. "When I got in there and looked at that tube, I was like, 'I'm not going in there,'" she recalled.

But the nursing team at Essentia Health-Fargo changed everything. They helped her get comfortable, turned on her favorite TV programs, and stayed right outside the chamber during each two-hour session.

For three months, Rasmussen committed to the treatment five days a week. The chamber became less intimidating and more routine, a small price for the healing she desperately needed.

By mid-November, her wound had completely closed. She packed her bags for Arizona and wore her hyperbaric medicine T-shirt to the airport with pride.

Sunny's Take

Rasmussen became an unexpected ambassador for the treatment during her travels. Strangers at the airport asked about her shirt, and she eagerly shared her story with anyone who would listen.

She now works in Guest Services at the same hospital where she received treatment. Her experience transformed her from anxious patient to enthusiastic advocate in just 50 sessions.

Essentia Health-Fargo holds the highest accreditation with distinction from the Undersea & Hyperbaric Medical Society. It's the only hospital in North Dakota offering round-the-clock hyperbaric care and the only facility across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana with this top-tier status.

May marks Hyperbaric Medicine Awareness Month, bringing attention to a treatment many people have never heard of. For Rasmussen, it's a celebration of second chances and the power of persistence.

She made it to that Arizona pool after all, wound-free and ready to enjoy the sunshine she'd been dreaming about for months.