My Experience in Treating Five Lung-Cancer Patients with TCM

Because the case record of every patient I treat is very long, and because a single patient's case record can easily mislead readers into thinking that the plan for every patient is something that can be copied onto other patients.

So in this article, from among the many lung-cancer patients I have treated over the last year or two, I select five and write abridged versions of their case records, introducing the treatment logic for each as concisely as possible, for readers' reference.

Case 1: A small-cell lung-cancer patient, Ding, from Jiaonan, Shandong

Ding, female, born September 1950, from Zhangjialou Town, Jiaonan City, Shandong Province.

She was seen on the morning of March 21, 2017, on an empty stomach. The left pulse was deep, weak and moderate; the right pulse was deep, fine and slightly wiry. The tongue was pale and slightly dry, with teeth marks along the edges. Before this she had received Western chemoradiotherapy and other TCM treatment for over a year.

The patient's general condition was fair, and she came to the consultation on her own. She had once developed liver damage from taking Chinese herbs. She had a forty-year smoking history and tended to choke when drinking water. Urination and defecation were normal; appetite and sleep were fair. Because her general condition was acceptable, I decided not to prescribe a decoction, and to treat her with ready-made medicines only.

Prescription: 1. Shugan Hewei Wan (Liver-Soothing Stomach-Harmonizing Pill); 2. Compound Cantharidin Capsules; 3. Neixiao Sanjie Wan (my self-designed anti-cancer pill formula based on centipede, scorpion, prepared pangolin scales, and Chinese honeylocust spine); 4. Pingxiao Pian; 5. Shenqi Shiyiwei Granules.

After taking the medicine, the patient's symptoms basically disappeared. I then told the family online to simplify the patient's prescription to two patent medicines: one was my self-designed Shanchan Wan (a pill formula based on a dozen or so "fight poison with poison" anti-cancer herbs such as ground beetle, toad venom, centipede and scorpion); the other was Compound Cantharidin Capsules.

The patient continued this regimen—taking the medicine for five days, resting for two days—until February 21, 2019, when she came for the second consultation. This patient has the longest interval I have ever seen between a first and second visit: she took medicine for 23 months before coming back.

During the medication period, liver and kidney function tests were normal, with no sign of recurrence. The reason she came back was that the cancer marker had risen slightly, although imaging showed no abnormality. Her normal work and life were not affected at all.

After the follow-up visit, based on her condition I added Huanyuan Dan (containing over 80 anti-cancer herbs) and Hualiu Wan (an anti-cancer drug based on Scrophularia, Sichuan fritillary, Zhejiang fritillary and tuber fritillary).

The patient is still under further treatment.

Case 2: A squamous-cell lung-cancer patient, Li, from Inner Mongolia

Li, male, born 1950, first seen at 7:11 PM on February 12, 2019.

At the first visit, the patient was restless and on edge, because of his recent condition and the discomfort of the various tests. He had coughed with much sputum since his early teens, with chest pain, and had long had to sleep on his side. He had coughed up blood over the last three months. He had previously been very fond of drinking water, in large amounts, most of it before bed.

The patient's son had previously, on a friend's recommendation, come to me to treat hepatitis B, with good results. So after his father coughed blood, he quickly consulted me. I suspected lung cancer and suggested they go to the hospital for a confirmed diagnosis; the local hospital confirmed a space-occupying lesion of the left lung, with pathology showing squamous-cell lung cancer.

Both lungs also had multiple old lesions, with inflammatory enlargement of the mediastinal and bilateral hilar lymph nodes. He occasionally had a fever, sometimes felt swelling and discomfort around the orbits, and had high blood pressure. Stool was normal, once a day, occasionally once every two days; urination was difficult. He had acid reflux when eating sweets, with underlying reflux esophagitis, chronic gastritis, a left kidney cyst, and prostatic hyperplasia with punctate calcification.

The right pulse was slippery, rapid, weak and soft; the left pulse was fine, soft and forceless. He coughed with much sputum, did not sweat, felt neither cold nor heat, and often breathed through an open mouth. The first-visit decoction was Maxing Shigan Tang combined with Huangqi Fangji Tang, modified:

Sheng Shigao (raw Gypsum) 30g (decoct first), Zhigancao (honey-fried Licorice) 10g, Xingren (Apricot Kernel) 6g, Zhi Mahuang (honey-fried Ephedra) 6g, Huangjing (Polygonatum) 30g, Danggui (Angelica) 15g, Yiyi (Coix) 60g, Sheng Huangqi (raw Astragalus) 30, Han Fangji (Han Stephania) 30g, Fuling (Poria) 30g, Zhuling (Polyporus) 15g, Cheqianzi (Plantago Seed) 15g, Huanniuxi (Achyranthes) 10g, Yuxingcao (Houttuynia) 30g, Xiakucao (Selfheal) 10g, Lianqiao (Forsythia) 10g, Jinyinhua (Honeysuckle) 30g, Jinqiaomai (Fagopyrum Cymosum) 30g, Maozhuaacao (Ranunculus Ternatus) 30g, Ziwan (Aster) 10g, Kuandonghua (Tussilago) 10g, Dongsangye (Mulberry Leaf) 15g, Yejuhua (Wild Chrysanthemum) 10g, Xianhecao (Agrimonia) 50g.

Ready-made medicines: 1. Sanjin Pian; 2. Biyankang Pian; 3. Duoying Wan (a pill formula I refined on the basis of Shanchan Wan); 4. Hualiu Wan.

The patient took the ready-made medicines that very evening, and after taking them developed nausea and vomiting, and did not sleep all night. When I saw him the next morning, his spirit was even worse than the night before. He reported that perhaps the long journey, together with the strong gastrointestinal stimulation from a recent contrast CT that he had not yet recovered from, was to blame.

I told the patient to go home and continue the medicine. After going home and taking the decoction, his symptoms not only did not lessen but worsened. On February 17, his son asked me to adjust the formula remotely. On reflection, I felt the patient's relevant symptoms might be caused by pleural effusion, so I changed the decoction to:

Sheng Huangqi 30, Han Fangji 30, Fuling 30, Zhuling 30, Chao Baizhu (fried Atractylodes) 30, Dangshen (Codonopsis) 30, Cheqianzi 15, Cheqiancao (Plantago Herb) 15, Huanniuxi 10, Daji (Cirsium) 20, Xiaoji (Cirsium Herb) 20, Yiyiren 60, Mohanlian 6, Nüzhenzi 6, Shayuanzi 6, Tusizi 6, Huangjing 15, Houpo (Magnolia Bark) 15, Fabanxia (processed Pinellia) 6, Zhigancao 6, Shengjiang (fresh Ginger) 7 slices, Dazao (Jujube) 7 (broken up), Jiao Sanxian 10 each, Tengligen 30, Shiwei 30.

All the above herbs were taken for five days, then stopped for two.

On February 26, the patient's son reported that, after taking the above and the patent medicines, the patient's condition had clearly improved in every way, and he could again do basic farm work normally; the old man, unable to stay idle, worked every day.

Later the old man did not want to drink the decoction, so I gave Fuzheng Guben Wan in place of the decoction. After taking it he felt well; when he occasionally had a cold and fever he went to a small clinic for IV fluids, and did not come back for follow-up.

On April 25, 2019, the patient was again admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University for a series of examinations (admission no. 000138613). Ultrasound and CT showed the lesion had clearly shrunk.

From the moment this patient's disease was discovered, he received no Western anti-cancer treatment. Because the family knew me well and had a clear-eyed understanding of lung cancer's prognosis, the family decided to try TCM first.

At the time the family had also consulted a certain chief physician in the oncology department of the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University about treatment. The family leaned toward TCM, while the Western doctor thought TCM treatment of cancer was impossible.

But after two and a half months of treatment, when they went back for reexamination, the chief physician was astonished. Feeling that TCM treatment of this patient was so remarkably effective, he no longer suggested chemotherapy, but instead advised the patient to rely mainly on Chinese medicine, considering radiotherapy combined with Chinese medicine only if necessary.

This patient is also under further treatment.

Case 3: A small-cell lung-cancer patient, Jiang

Jiang, female, first seen December 5, 2018. This patient is the elder sister of the Jiang I treated—the mesothelioma patient from the Huabei Oilfield who did well. After being diagnosed with small-cell lung cancer, she very much wanted me to treat her. At the time my schedule was tight and she could not get an appointment, so her younger sister gave her, to start, my self-designed pill formulas Duoying Wan and Neixiao Sanjie Wan, as well as Xihuang Wan.

On December 5, 2018, after I made time, the patient came to the clinic.

Imaging showed a space-occupying lesion at the root of the lower lobe of the right lung, considered lung cancer. Mediastinal and right hilar lymph nodes were enlarged. There were multiple small nodules in the right lung, metastasis not excluded; follow-up or clinical correlation advised. There was localized bilateral pleural thickening and linear opacities in both lungs, follow-up advised; roundlike lucencies in both lungs, considered emphysema. A small right pleural effusion. Low-density areas in liver and both kidneys, considered cysts; brain showed no abnormality. She was sensitive to smells.

The patient denied chest tightness. She had a dry cough without sputum, an irritative dry cough. Mouth was not dry, but she drank much water, taking a sip whenever she had a dry cough. Urine was yellow, stool very sticky, and she had long had mucous stool. Sleep was fair, and she did not cough once asleep. Basically no sputum, and no blood in the sputum. Her appetite was poor. The left pulse was fine, soft and forceless; the right pulse was fine, slightly wiry, rapid and forceless. Blood pressure was low. When coughing she felt a twitching sensation in the lower abdomen.

The tongue body was pale with little coating and moist. No lower back or knee weakness, no back pain. Shoulders and back felt fine, with no pain yet.

I decided to treat with a yin-nourishing, lung-clearing approach. The formula was Yangyin Qingfei Tang combined with Maxing Shigan Tang, modified: Nanshashen (Adenophora) 10g, Beishashen (Glehnia) 10g, Maidong (Ophiopogon) 10g, Tiandong (Asparagus Cochinchinensis) 10g, Baihe (Lily Bulb) 30g, Yuzhu (Polygonatum Odoratum) 10g, Zhebeimu (Zhejiang Fritillary) 12g, Xuanshen (Scrophularia) 12g, Sheng Muli (raw Oyster Shell) 30g (decoct first), Haifushi (Pumice) 30g (decoct first), Sheng Shigao (raw Gypsum) 30g (decoct first), Shengdi (Raw Rehmannia) 10g, Digupi (Lycium Bark) 10g, Zhi Mahuang 6g, Xingren 6g, Kuandonghua 10g, Ziwan 10g, Sanleng (Sparganium) 6g, Ezhu (Curcuma) 6g, Zhi Biejia (honey-fried Turtle Shell) 10g, Mudanpi (Moutan Bark) 6g, Zhimu (Anemarrhena) 6g, Huangqin (Scutellaria) 6g, Yuxingcao 30g, Banzhilian (Scutellaria Barbata) 15g, Baihua Sheshecao (Oldenlandia) 15g, Xiakucaoqiu (Selfheal Spike) 10g, Shihu (Dendrobium) 10g, Sheng Ruxiang (raw Moxa Resin) 6g, Sheng Moyao (raw Myrrh) 6g, Baiji (Bletilla) 6g, Xianhecao 30g, Jinqiaomai 30g, Maozhuaacao 30g, Tianhuafen (Trichosanthes Root) 10g, Jiao Sanxian 10g each, Chao Jineijin (fried Chickene Gizzard Lining) 30g, Chao Yiyiren (fried Coix) 60g, Huaishanyao (Chinese Yam) 20g, Jinyinhua 15g, Baiying (Solanum Lyratum) 15g, Lianqiao 15g, Sheng Huangqi 30g, Xiyangshen (American Ginseng) 6g (decoct separately and mix in).

One decoction a day, decocted twice, taken in three divided doses. The first two doses were each taken over two days, once after breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Ready-made medicines: 1. Yangyin Qingfei Wan, per the insert; 2. Pipaga Zhike Syrup, per the insert; 3. Xihuang Wan (6-12 g each night before bed); 4. Duoying Wan, 15 pills three times a day; 5. Neixiao Sanjie Wan, 8 pills twice a day; 6. Compound Cantharidin Capsules, 1-3 capsules twice a day.

Dietary restrictions: seafood, pickled vegetables, salted vegetables, spicy food, beef and mutton, barbecue, hotpot, and all raw and cold foods.

Instructions: take the medicine for 5 days, rest for 2.

The family, after going home, decided to use an integrated Chinese-Western approach. While insisting on taking the Chinese medicine, the patient also underwent six courses of chemotherapy (because she had originally been booked for a second consultation but was delayed by a last-minute matter, the Western chemotherapy details are not yet known). Recently, when her younger sister came for a follow-up, she reported that at the patient's most recent reexamination, the tumor and metastatic lesions had all disappeared; she is currently well and continues on maintenance Chinese medicine.

Case 4: A lung-cancer patient, Zhang, from Cangzhou, Hebei

Zhang, female, 73, from Botou, Cangzhou, Hebei, first seen August 22, 2018. She was also referred by the aforementioned mesothelioma patient Jiang of the Huabei Oilfield.

Imaging showed a space-occupying lesion in the upper lobe of the right lung, brain atrophy, lacunar infarcts in both basal ganglia and the left corona radiata, small mediastinal lymph nodes, and interstitial changes in both lungs. There was inflammation of both maxillary sinuses. She was very sensitive to temperature, uncomfortable in both cold and heat. She had worked in a glass factory, later in water-product-related work, and had worked in a plastics factory. She had a smoking history of over forty years.

She had no hemoptysis. Recently her appetite was poor, with a bitter mouth, no dry mouth, no chest tightness, occasional wheezing, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Her head felt heavy. Both pulses were wiry and moderate, and the root of the tongue was slightly yellow. Stool was not easy to pass, formed, and yellow in color. Urine was frequent, with little volume each time. Sleep was fair. Over the last two days she had felt feverish all over, with a temperature as high as 37.8°C. Over the last half year she had lost weight progressively, about 10 kg.

Based on her systemic symptoms and pulse, I judged the fever to be caused by deficiency, and decided to treat with Guipi Tang combined with Jiangjiang San and Yinqiao San, etc.:

Taizishen (Pseudostellaria) 30g, Sheng Huangqi 30g, Chao Baizhu 15g, Fuling 30g, Danggui 10g, Muxiang (Aucklandia) 10g, Huashi (Talc) 30g (wrap-decoct), Sheng Gancao (raw Licorice) 6g, Chao Zhizi (fried Gardenia) 15g, Yinchen (Capillary Wormwood) 15g, Mohanlian 15g, Nüzhenzi 15g, Shayuanzi 10g, Tusizi 10g, Sheng Yiyiren (raw Coix) 60g, Jiao Sanxian 15g each, Chao Jineijin 30g, Pianjianghuang (Curcuma Slice) 6g, Chao Jiangcan (fried Silkworm) 10g, Chantui (Cicada Slough) 6g, Lianqiao 10g, Jinyinhua 30g, Pugongying (Dandelion) 30g, Chaihu (Bupleurum) 10g, Huangqin 10g, Fabanxia 10g, Dannanxing (Bile Arisaema) 10g, Manjingzi (Vitex) 20g, Baizhi (Angelica Dahurica) 10g, Chuanxiong (Ligusticum) 10g, Qianghuo (Notopterygium) 6g, Duhuo (Angelica Pubescens) 6g.

Each dose was decocted twice, taken over 1-2 days, 2-3 times a day, after meals.

Ready-made medicines: Shugan Hewei Wan (Beijing Tong Ren Tang); Pingxiao Pian (Xi'an Zhengda), 4-8 tablets three times a day; Duoying Wan (self-designed pill), 5-20 pills three times a day; Neixiao Sanjie Wan (self-made), 8 pills twice a day; Norcantharidin tablets (North China Pharmaceutical), 5-15 mg twice a day; Xihuang Wan (Beijing Tong Ren Tang), 6 g once a day before bed.

Later, because Xihuang Wan rose in price and the patient's family was hard up, Xihuang Wan was dropped.

After the first visit the patient went home and then went for chemotherapy; the chemotherapy effect was very poor, her condition progressed rapidly, and her body declined day by day, so she gave up chemotherapy and concentrated on Chinese medicine.

After giving up Western treatment and taking Chinese medicine for a month, the tumor shrank by about half. The whole family was thrilled, and then ceased all Western treatment. She is currently still under treatment.

Case 5: A lung-cancer patient, Zeng, from the Huabei Oilfield

Zeng, born November 1945, a retired Western gastroenterologist who had worked at the General Hospital of the Huabei Oilfield Administration before retirement; he was also referred by the mesothelioma patient Jiang.

First visit on the morning of February 18, 2019, on an empty stomach.

The patient had surgery on December 13, 2018. On January 14, 2019, an examination at the General Hospital of the Huabei Petroleum Administration showed (image no. 000112044600): postoperative changes in the lower lobe of the left lung, a small left pleural effusion, and possible small inflammation in the lower lobe of the right lung.

The left pulse was deep, slow, fine and weak; the right pulse was wiry, moderate and fine. The tongue was red with a mottled white coating.

Bitter mouth and dry mouth, with discomfort beneath the right rib. He choked easily when drinking water, with difficulty swallowing. He used to belch a lot and pass much gas. There was a dull pain in the left chest. No chest tightness, but shortness of breath; he liked to sleep on his right side, and was gradually able to sleep on his left.

He had had a cold and cough in July-August 2018, with little sputum, a dry or choking cough; after taking amoxicillin, licorice tablets and similar, the effect was unclear. No fever, occasional mucous sputum. After switching antibiotics, the cough gradually stopped. Later, on a hospital physical, a space-occupying lesion was found in the left chest. Now he always feels a foreign-body sensation in the throat. Appetite is fair. Stool occasionally constipated, a little dry. Urine normal, dark yellow when he drinks little water, clear when he drinks much. Sleep quality is fair when he is not coughing.

Based on his condition, I decided to treat with my commonly used water-disinhibiting empirical formula, Houpo Banxia combined with Fangji Huangqi Tang, modified:

Houpo (Magnolia Bark) 18g, Fabanxia (processed Pinellia) 6g, Zhuru (Bamboo Shavings) 6g, Dannanxing (Bile Arisaema) 6g, Zisuye (Perilla Leaf) 6g (add later), Fuling (Poria) 30g, Han Fangji (Han Stephania) 20g, Zhuling (Polyporus) 12g, Sheng Huangqi (raw Astragalus) 30g, Chao Baizhu (fried Atractylodes) 15g, Cheqianzi (Plantago Seed) 10g, Cheqiancao (Plantago Herb) 10g, Huanniuxi (Achyranthes) 15g, Maozhuaacao (Ranunculus Ternatus) 30g, Jinqiaomai (Fagopyrum Cymosum) 30g, Nanshashen (Adenophora) 15g, Beishashen (Glehnia) 15g, Huangjing (Polygonatum) 15g, Danggui (Angelica) 12g, Sheng Yiyiren (raw Coix) 60g, Baiji (Bletilla) 10g, Jiao Sanxian 10g each, Roucongrong (Cistanche) 30g, Xuanfuhua (Inula) 10g (wrap-decoct), Daizheshi (Hematite) 10g (wrap-decoct), Banzhilian (Scutellaria Barbata) 15g, Baihua Sheshecao (Oldenlandia) 15g, Baiying (Solanum Lyratum) 30g, Chaihu (Bupleurum) 10g, Huangqin (Scutellaria) 10g.

The first dose was taken over two days, four times, once half an hour after breakfast and after dinner. If there were no obvious side effects, from the second dose on, the herbs were decocted twice and taken three times a day, once half an hour after breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Ready-made medicines: 1. Shugan Hewei Wan; 2. Duoying Wan, 5-15 pills three times a day; 3. Huanyuan Dan, 30-50 pills twice a day.

All medicines were taken for 5 days and stopped for 2. Liver and kidney function were checked after one month; the medicine was stopped for colds and fever.

Dietary restrictions: seafood, citrus fruits, sweet potato, spicy food, pickled products, shrimp, crab, barbecue, hotpot, and fatty meat.

Second visit, fasting, 9:47 AM on March 18, 2019.

There was still a constant foreign-body sensation in the throat, and he poorly tolerated the decoction; the pleural effusion had lessened. The right pulse was fine, wiry, moderate and forceless; the left pulse was fine, moderate and forceless. His activity level was high. The tongue was red with a blackish-yellow greasy coating. Constipation, which had worsened after taking the pills.

So I changed the decoction to an herbal tea: Gouteng (Uncaria) 5 pieces, Bohe (Mint) 1-2 g, Juhua (Chrysanthemum) 1-3 flowers, brewed as tea.

Ready-made medicines: 1. Qisheng Dan (a further refined version of Shanchan Wan), 10-20 pills three times a day; 2. Fuzheng Guben Wan, 20-40 pills twice a day; 3. Huanyuan Dan, 30 pills twice a day.

On April 23, 2019, Dr. Zeng brought an acquaintance to me for treatment and casually had a third consultation. The pleural effusion had further improved. The right pulse was wiry, moderate and forceful; the left pulse was deep and soft; the tongue was slightly yellow; stool was slightly hard; urine was clear or pale yellow. At the patient's request, I added back the decoction:

Sheng Huangqi 30g, Han Fangji 20g, Fuling 20g, Zhuling 10g, Zexie (Alisma) 10g, Cheqianzi 10g, Cheqiancao 10g, Yimucao (Leonurus) 30g, Pianjianghuang (Curcuma Slice) 6g, Chantui (Cicada Slough) 6g, Chao Jiangcan (fried Silkworm) 10g, Roucongrong 30g, Xuanshen (Scrophularia) 12g, Zhebeimu 12g, Sheng Muli (raw Oyster Shell) 30g (decoct first), Huanniuxi 10g, Mohanlian 10g, Nüzhenzi 10g, Shayuanzi 10g, Tusizi 10g, Dangshen 20g, Huangjing 20g, Sanleng (Sparganium) 6g, Ezhu (Curcuma) 6g, Jiao Sanxian 10g each, Danggui 6g, Jiegeng (Platycodon) 10g, Huangqin 6g, Xingren 6g, Sheng Gancao (raw Licorice) 6g, Banzhilian 15g, Baihua Sheshecao 15g, Maozhuaacao 30g, Jinqiaomai 30g.

One dose a day, once each in the morning, at noon, and in the evening, half an hour after meals.

Some of the patients in this article were treated with pure TCM, some with integrated Chinese and Western medicine, and some with pure TCM after Western treatment failed; every situation is represented, and all had effective results.

So, what kind of treatment a cancer patient should choose is something even doctors cannot say for sure. In most cases I let the patient choose. Only occasionally, when a patient's chosen plan carries great risk, do I warn the patient of the risk.

The three patients listed in this article are all new patients referred by the same old patient; another case was the father of a patient I had treated. Those they referred were not casual acquaintances, but relatives, friends or colleagues.

Patients referred by those for whom treatment has worked have far greater trust in the doctor than other patients. During medication, even if discomfort arises, they patiently communicate with the doctor and adjust the plan; only treatment like this can guarantee results.

I myself rarely manage to write the right prescription the first time. After taking the medicine, patients always have all sorts of discomfort; only when the patient trusts me do I have the chance to revise my prescription again and again, until the treatment works well. So any treatment must be built on trust.

I myself rarely enter into the dispute between Chinese and Western medicine; I feel the Chinese-Western medical dispute is a false proposition. A TCM doctor who genuinely has efficacy will win the recognition of Western doctors, and some Western doctors will themselves come seeking TCM treatment.

Over the years I have treated many Western doctors and their families, and when my own family falls ill and I cannot solve it, I often seek Western help. I have no bias against either Chinese or Western medicine, and in real work I rarely encounter extreme anti-TCM people.

The peach and plum trees speak not, yet a path wears itself beneath them. I believe the root of a doctor's being is still in refining oneself and raising one's clinical ability. A doctor with a high effective rate will, through efficacy rather than through time- and energy-wasting argument, win recognition from patients and peers.