A Case of Effective Integrated Chinese-Western Medicine Treatment for End-Stage Lung Cancer
This is a case of end-stage lung cancer with multiple metastases. On May 10, 2022, the patient's family sought my help. I originally held out no hope for the patient's treatment, but unexpectedly, the patient's family contacted me happily today, telling me that the treatment had been very effective, the lung lesions had significantly shrunk, and the cancer pain had disappeared. They also sent me the patient's follow-up examination report to review. The patient was very lucky; this therapeutic outcome was beyond my expectations.
The patient, Li, a 72-year-old farmer from Cao County, Heze City, Shandong Province, had long lived in the countryside with no history of exposure to pollutants or radioactive substances. He had a 50-year smoking history, no drinking history, and no family history of tumors. He has a cheerful personality.
On March 12, 2022, the patient was admitted to hospital for chest tightness accompanied by cough. On March 21, Shanxian Central Hospital in Shandong Province diagnosed him with advanced lung cancer, pathologically confirmed as lung adenosquamous carcinoma, with liver metastasis and multiple bone metastases. Genetic testing found no mutation targets, so no targeted drug was available. A chemotherapy plus immunotherapy regimen was then adopted. After the first chemotherapy, the chest tightness, cough, and rib pain disappeared, but from then on his right arm began to hurt severely, unbearably so.
On April 12, a follow-up examination found new bone metastases in the right arm and left ribs. The second chemotherapy was started, and immunotherapy (tislelizumab injection) was administered. The pain in the right arm intensified. On May 9, he accompanied his family to Yingkou People's Hospital in Liaoning Province for re-examination. Comparison with previous films confirmed that chemotherapy was ineffective, the cancer lesions had progressed, and the liver metastases had significantly enlarged; continued chemotherapy was not recommended. Out of helplessness, although genetic testing showed no effective targeted drug, he had to take anlotinib capsules as palliative treatment.
After two chemotherapies, the patient's white blood cells, red blood cells, and hemoglobin all decreased. After using a leukocyte-raising injection, the white blood cells rose, but red blood cells and hemoglobin remained low. He had poor appetite, somnolence, fatigue, and severe, unbearable pain in the right shoulder. Because of the pandemic, an in-person consultation was impossible, and the family asked me to help the patient remotely over the internet.
To be honest, I held out no hope for this patient, because his liver metastasis was very large, measuring 95×78mm. Such huge liver metastases usually mean the patient has a very short survival time. Moreover, there were multiple bone metastases, the lung lesions were not small, and there was pleural effusion. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy were ineffective, and genetic testing showed no targeted drug available. Although he was taking anlotinib, from a scientific standpoint this palliative treatment has no effect.
The patient's family had modest expectations, hoping only to minimize the patient's suffering as much as possible. I therefore suggested they use Renshen Yangrong Pills (Ginseng Nutrition Pills) to improve the patient's anemia and boost appetite, and use Xihuang Pills and Compound Mylabris Capsules for anti-tumor and pain relief.
The patient followed this regimen, and shoulder pain gradually lessened while appetite improved. On June 30, 2022, re-examination at Yingkou Fangda Hospital in Liaoning Province showed a trend of shrinkage in the lung lesions, while the liver metastases basically remained unchanged. Subsequently, the patient went to his daughter's home in Jiuquan, Gansu Province to recuperate, continuing the above regimen. At the same time, he received a bone-protecting injection once a month, and the immunotherapy tislelizumab continued.
On July 29, the patient was readmitted to Jiuquan People's Hospital in Gansu Province for re-examination (medical record no. 684223). The results showed that the lung lesions had further shrunk, while the liver metastases remained unchanged—neither enlarged nor shrunk. However, the patient's right arm no longer hurt, appetite was normal, energy was normal, and he was in a symptom-free survival state.
On August 12, the patient's family again asked me for help, hoping I could find some way to address the liver metastatic lesions. I therefore suggested they try my TCM multi-target anti-tumor approach, simultaneously taking Ganfule Tablets, and returning for re-examination after a period of treatment to see if the liver metastases could improve.
To be honest, the tumor shrinking, the pain stopping, and the treatment process being safe all far exceeded my expectations. When the patient's family first came to consult me, I held out no hope. For such a seriously ill advanced patient with ineffective chemotherapy and immunotherapy and no targeted drug available, successful cases relying solely on Chinese medicine are rare. But unexpectedly, this patient was so lucky that the treatment was actually effective. This shows that even end-stage cancer patients are not necessarily beyond help. But for treatment to be effective, the patient does indeed need a bit of luck.