A Case Report: TCM Treatment of Melanoma with Lesion Shrinkage

Doctor zhou March 1, 2023

Patient Zhang, female, 65 years old. In 2021 the patient herself noticed a black line on the nail of her right great toe, along with elevation of the nail surface; she filed it down with a file, and the result was uncontrollable bleeding. On August 28, 2021, a skin histopathology examination at Xijing Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University, showed malignant melanoma (pathology no. 2106723). The great toe was immediately amputated; at the same time no inguinal metastasis was detected. Local Xi doctors recommended half a year of interferon, with reexamination after half a year. At the seven-month reexamination, the interferon dose was halved. At the eight-month hospital follow-up, ultrasound found that the melanoma had metastasized to the inguinal region.

On April 6, 2022, ultrasound at Xijing Hospital found one enlarged lymph node on each side of the inguinal region: the right about 1.8 x 0.8 cm (with abundant blood flow signals), the left about 2.7 x 0.6 cm, highly suspected as inguinal lymph metastasis lesions.

On April 20, 2022, Western medicine gave the first cycle of PD-1 (imported Pembrolizumab), administering 2 injections, and halved the interferon dose. On May 11, the second cycle of PD-1 treatment was given.

On June 2, 2022, after the third PD-1 treatment, repeat ultrasound at Xijing Hospital showed the right inguinal tumor had enlarged to 3.3 x 1.4 cm and the left to 2.7 x 0.7 cm. Evaluation showed that the several consecutive PD-1 and interferon treatments had no obvious effect. During this period, because of the immune storm caused by PD-1 treatment, the patient came to me in great whole-body pain, and I recommended Maxing Yiyi Gancao Tang; after taking it, the pain disappeared.

Starting in June, the patient and her family decided to stop the expensive but ineffective PD-1, while retaining interferon treatment. On June 11, while on interferon, she began taking TCM from an old TCM doctor in Yunnan. At that time, examination at Hancheng Hospital showed the right inguinal tumor was 2.7 x 1.2 and the left 1.9 x 0.9. Considering that the examination equipment at the two hospitals might differ and the results might have errors, the family later decided to keep having examinations and evaluations at Hancheng Hospital.

After 25 days of taking the Yunnan TCM, the patient was reexamined at Hancheng Hospital on July 11, 2022. The right inguinal tumor had enlarged to 3.6 x 1.5 and the left to 2.2 x 1.1. The family became alarmed, and on July 15, 2022 went to Xijing Hospital to prepare for the fourth PD-1 treatment; examination that day at Xijing showed the right inguinal tumor was 2.9 x 1.4 and the left 2.3 x 0.4.

Starting July 17, 2022, the patient sought me for TCM antitumor treatment. I followed my own approach of treating cancer with a large TCM compound acting on multiple targets (see my article My Practical Experience Using Large TCM Compounds for Broad-Spectrum, Multi-Target Anticancer Treatment). I used a huge compound of over a hundred herbs, including Pianjianghuang (Curcuma wenyujin, sliced), Maozhaocao (Radix Ranunculi Ternati), Zhiqiao (Immature Bitter Orange), Qingpi (Green Tangerine peel), Chenpi (Tangerine peel), Danshen (Salvia), Houpo (Magnolia bark), Sheng Yiyiren (raw Coix seed), Doukou (Cardamom), Fuling (Poria), Sheng Ruxiang (raw Olibanum), Sheng Moyao (raw Myrrh), Xuejie (Dragon Blood), Wugong (Centipede), Quanxie (Scorpion), Sanleng (Sparganium), Ezhu (Curcuma), Xuanshen (Scrophularia), Songbeimu (Fritillaria), Tubemu (Bolbostemma), Zhebeimu (Fritillaria thunbergii), Muli (Oyster shell), Haizao (Sargassum), Kunbu (Ecklonia), Sanqi (Notoginseng), Bihu (Gecko), Shanqiao (Spirobolus), Ganchu (dry Toad), Sheng Shuizhi (raw Leech), Dilong (Earthworm), Danggui (Angelica), Huangjing (Polygonatum), Sheng Huangqi (raw Astragalus), Shufu (Armadillidium), Yuanhu (Corydalis), Liangtoujian (Anemone raddeana), Lufengfang (Honeycomb), Huangyaozi (Dioscorea bulbifera), Shancigu (Cremastra), Xishuiguo (Camptotheca fruit), Qianglang (Dung Beetle), Dibiechong (Eupolyphaga), Mohanlian (Eclipta), Nüzhenzi (Ligustrum), Shayuanzi (Astragalus complanatus seed), Tusizi (Cuscuta), Gouqizi (Lycium), Bajitian (Morinda), Dingxiang (Clove), Rougui (Cinnamon), Mengchong (Tabanus), Baihuashe (Banded Krait), Caoshe (Grass Snake), Fabanxia (processed Pinellia), Dannannan (Arisaema with Bile), Shandougen (Sophora tonkinensis), Chonglou (Paris), Tenghuang (Gamboge), Kushen (Sophora root), Jixingzi (Impatientis seed), Baishao (White Peony), Huaishanyao (Dioscorea opposite), Chuanxiong (Ligusticum), Taoren (Peach kernel), Honghua (Safflower), Baiji (Bletilla), Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia), Xiyangshen (American Ginseng), Ercha (catechu), Baizhu (White Atractylodes), Jiangcan (Stiff Silkworm), Chan yi (Cicada slough), Chaihu (Bupleurum), Huangqin (Scutellaria), Xiakucao (Prunella), Niuxi (Achyranthes), Shexiang (Musk), Niuhuang (Bovine Bezoar), Xionghuang (Realgar), Mudanpi (Moutan bark), Daqingye (Isatis leaf), Banlangen (Isatis root), Baitouweng (Pulsatilla), Guanzhong (Wood Fern), Huaier (Trametes), Wuguteng (Fissistigma), Huaruishi (Oolite), Chishao (Red Peony), Zaojiaoci (Gleditsia spine), Tieshuye (Cycad leaf), Pugongying (Dandelion), Lujiaoshuang (deer antler preparation), Tianhuafen (Trichosanthes root), Beidougen (Menispermum), Zhizi (Gardenia), Sheng Huaimi (raw Sophora bud) and others.

I instructed the patient to take the medicine for five days and stop for two. After taking it, her physical condition improved markedly: good appetite and acceptable strength. After 30 days on this formula, reexamination showed the right inguinal tumor was 2.8 x 1.3 and the left 2.5 x 0.9; the patient decided to stop interferon and use TCM alone. Continuing the medicine to 60 days, she went again to Hancheng Hospital on February 23, 2023 for reexamination: the right inguinal tumor had shrunk to 1.8 x 0.9 and the left to 1.3 x 0.5, and blood flow signals within the tumors were markedly reduced; the effect was better than with previous treatments.

After 60 days on the medicine, the patient condition improved further. Because the treatment was effective, the patient and her family decided to temporarily abandon all other treatments and use TCM alone, observing subsequent efficacy.

Malignant melanoma is very hard to treat; once it recurs and metastasizes after surgery, it progresses rapidly. PD-1 has been the darling of melanoma treatment in recent years; former US President Carter was cured of malignant melanoma with PD-1. But this regimen effective rate is not high; this patient had previously been treated with PD-1 and interferon, with poor results.

In fact, from the end of April 2022, before every treatment decision, the patient family would request a call with me to seek my advice, hoping for my recommendations. It was only in July that they decided to treat according to my medication plan. Even I myself held no hope of shrinking her tumor, but using this relatively comprehensive approach, adopting an oversized TCM prescription, unexpectedly achieved the effect of shrinking her tumor, which surprised me somewhat.

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