Use Caution with Corrosive Topical Treatments for Superficial Tumors—the Cost Is Too High

Among the folk, there have always been people treating superficial tumors by external application, mostly using highly toxic, corrosive Chinese herbs or various vesicant herbs. I have seen in news reports that some Westerners are also trying their own local traditional topical methods for superficial tumors.

In my experience, such topical methods suit infectious swellings, not malignant tumors.

Over the years, the patients I have seen treated for malignant tumors by topical application have mostly ended in outcomes that can only be described as tragic. Most such treatments end with the ulceration of the tumor, rotting of surface tissue, unstoppable bleeding, and wounds that will not heal, leaving the patient tormented until death.

Yet even now many superficial-tumor patients still try topical treatment. Some breast-cancer patients, after using topical applications on their breast cancer, ended with the breast tissue rotting away until internal organs were visible. The final quality of life for such patients is appalling.

Every time I see photos of patients whose skin and flesh have rotted after failed topical treatment, I feel deep sorrow for them; the days they live through after such failure can only be described as hell. Because the images would seriously disturb readers, I will not include them in this article. Those interested can search Baidu themselves and find countless pictures of superficial tissue rotting and ulcerating after topical tumor treatment.

Many patients hold unrealistic expectations about tumor treatment, which may be a major reason they believe topical methods can solve their problems. In reality most mid- to late-stage tumors metastasize and spread, so relying on topical application to "draw out toxin and expel pus" is a lovely but childish wish.

A tumor is unlike an ordinary infectious disease; after "drawing out toxin," no pus comes out. Instead, the strong corrosiveness of some drugs causes surface tissue to ulcerate and perforate, bleeding outward nonstop. There are always people telling tumor patients that this bleeding outward is "expelling toxin"; such wrong guidance makes life bitter for those who believe it.

Throughout the ages, TCM external-surgery specialists treating malignant tumors have especially emphasized "prioritizing dissipation, dreading ulceration." Once an ordinary superficial tumor (such as breast cancer) ulcerates, it not only fails to expel toxin but, because the wound will not heal, leaves the patient with a very poor subsequent quality of life.

Every year quite a few patients with ulcerated superficial tumors consult me about how to manage the aftermath—which is actually very hard to manage. Medical texts since ancient times record: "once ulcerated, it is untreatable." Traditional formulas like Yuhong Shengji Gao (Jade Red Muscle-Generating Paste) do little for cancerous ulcers; most patients can only improve their quality of life by frequently going to hospital for dressing changes. Only a very few, after receiving effective chemotherapy, have seen the wound gradually heal.

Similarly, direct use of purulent moxibustion on such superficial tumors must be approached cautiously. In my early years I was misled into thinking purulent moxibustion could solve malignant-tumor problems. But in fact successful cases with purulent moxibustion are very rare, while cases where the wound will not heal after purulent moxibustion treatment are very common.

When treating, doctors should try not to rupture a patient's superficial tumor. Internal tumors cannot be seen with the naked eye, but having seen so many externally ulcerated ones, we should understand that once a tumor growing inside the body ulcerates, it is equally intractable. Striving to treat tumors with methods that can dissipate them is far safer than corrosive methods that cause them to ulcerate.