Joe Cabral
“I spent 3½ hours a day in a pressurized chamber 60 times this year over the course of 2½ months,” says Joe Cabral, Thousand Oaks resident, community activist and retired CEO, “I could actually feel the progress of my wounds getting better.” Joe credits his remarkable healing to Dr. Mark Suski and the Center for Advanced Wound Care Healing at Los Robles Health System. Joe, 71, was suffering from the side effects of radiation treatment for prostate cancer when his physician referred him for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Joe had his prostate removed in 2004, followed by radiation treatments. While he did not show any signs of cancer in 2018, the radiation treatments took a toll on his body. He was feeling the painful effects of urinary retention, which included passing scar tissue.
Initially, Joe underwent Artificial Urinary Sphincter Surgery (AUS) in July 2019, which appeared to solve the problem, but the results lasted only a short time, and Joe was back where he started and in enormous pain in late 2019. That’s when his physician referred him to Dr. Suski.
“Joe was a good candidate for the treatment,” says Dr. Suski. “He had radiation induced cystitis, a side effect of radiation therapy with subsequent destruction of the normal lining of his urinary bladder.” The treatment involves lying in a pressurized chamber for 90 minutes breathing pure oxygen. Treatments are referred to as dives, because of the pressurization process which feels like you are going down under the water or descending during a flight. The pressure helps the body to deliver more oxygen to the blood. More oxygen causes better healing and fights infection.
“The treatments were long, but I got used to them quickly and the people who took care of me were unbelievable,” says Joe. The chamber is actually clear and roomy, so patients are surprised when they don’t feel claustrophobic. “It wasn’t bad at all,” says Joe. “It’s amazing — the results of the wound treatment have been nothing short of remarkable.”
“Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is incredibly effective for certain wounds that cannot heal,” says Dr. Suski. Air pressure is increased to three times higher than normal — in these conditions, lungs gather more pure oxygen than would be possible under normal air pressure. Blood carries this oxygen throughout the body and helps to fight bacteria which stimulates the release of substances called growth factors and stem cells, which promote healing. “It is incredibly effective for diabetic patients who have wounds that don’t heal and other complex wounds as well” says Dr. Suski.
“I didn’t realize that Dr. Suski was chief of staff at Los Robles until I heard him being interviewed on one of Assemblywoman Jaqui Irwin’s online Covid-19 updates. He is such a caring and easy going guy. He and his entire staff really put me at ease.”
Today, Joe is feeling great. The pain is gone and he is back to doing what he loves most, being an active member of the community he has lived in for more than 40 years, playing Senior League softball, and spending time with his family.
“The folks at Los Robles — the doctors and the nurses and every single person that I came in contact with steered me in the right direction with confidence, comfort and safety in mind,” says Joe. “I am forever grateful.”
To learn more about the award-winning care at the Center for Advanced Care Healing at Los Robles Health System, please call 805-370-4325, or visit our wound care page.