A Case Report: Complete Tumor Resolution After 2 Years and 8 Months of Treating Melanoma with a Large-Formula Multi-Target TCM Approach

The author first published this patient's case on March 1, 2023. At that time, after the author's purely TCM treatment, the patient's metastatic tumors were shrinking. Thereafter, the patient's tumors continued to shrink slowly but steadily.

Because the patient had previously undergone various Western treatments including PD-1, the tumor had continued to progress. After the author's purely TCM treatment, the efficacy was satisfactory. So the patient persisted with purely TCM treatment for more than two years and did not adopt any Western medical treatment again. On March 21, 2025, the patient's family contacted the author to inform him that a recent examination showed that the previously monitored tumor had completely disappeared.

The author applied to this patient the TCM large-formula multi-target anti-cancer approach that he has been exploring for many years; a detailed discussion of this approach can be found in the author's article "Introduction to Practical Experience in Broad-Spectrum Anti-Cancer with Multitargeted Chinese Herbal Formulas." Regarding the principle of this treatment approach, the author also wrote two other articles, "'Cocktail Anti-Cancer Therapy' with Large TCM Formulas Is Worth Exploring" and "Cocktail Therapy for Cancer," to further explain it.

The patient is now 69 years old. In 2021, the patient noticed a black line on the nail of the right great toe, along with elevation of the nail surface. He filed at it himself with a nail file, resulting in continuous bleeding. On August 28, 2021, a pathological examination at a hospital in Xi'an showed malignant melanoma.

The patient immediately underwent amputation of the great toe at that hospital, and no metastasis was detected in the inguinal region. Western medicine recommended half a year of interferon, with re-examination after half a year of treatment. Seven months later, at re-examination, the interferon dose was halved. However, on April 6, 2022, a B-ultrasound at that hospital revealed enlarged lymph nodes in both the right and left inguinal regions: the right one was about 1.8×0.8 cm (with rich blood flow signals) and the left one about 2.7×0.6 cm, highly suspicious of inguinal lymph node metastatic lesions.

On April 20, 2022, Western medicine administered the first cycle of PD-1 (imported pembrolizumab); after 2 injections, the interferon dose was reduced by half. On May 11, the second cycle of PD-1 treatment was given.

On June 2, 2022, after the third PD-1 treatment, a repeat B-ultrasound at that hospital showed the right inguinal tumor had enlarged to 3.3×1.4 cm and the left to 2.7×0.7 cm. Assessment showed that several consecutive rounds of PD-1 and interferon treatment had little effect. During this period, the patient approached the author for help because of severe whole-body pain caused by the immune storm from PD-1 treatment. The author recommended Mahuang Xingyi Yiyi Gancao Tang (Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Coix, and Licorice Decoction), after which the pain disappeared.

Starting in June, the patient and family decided to stop the expensive but ineffective PD-1 while retaining interferon treatment. On June 11, while continuing interferon, the patient began taking Chinese medicine from an elderly TCM doctor in Yunnan who had previously cured melanoma. At the time, an examination at the local hospital showed the right inguinal tumor was 2.7×1.2 and the left was 1.9×0.9. Considering that the examination equipment at the two hospitals might differ, the results could vary. The patient's family later decided to have examinations and assessments continuously at the local hospital.

After taking the Yunnan TCM doctor's herbs for 25 days, the patient was re-examined at the local hospital on July 11, 2022. The right inguinal tumor had enlarged to 3.6×1.5 and the left to 2.2×1.1. The patient's family became somewhat alarmed and went to a Xi'an hospital on July 15, 2022, to prepare for the fourth PD-1 treatment; an examination at that hospital that day showed the right inguinal tumor was 2.9×1.4 and the left was 2.3×0.4.

Starting on July 17, 2022, the patient sought the author's anti-tumor treatment with Chinese medicine. The author then, following his own multitargeted herbal anti-cancer approach, used a very large formula consisting of more than a hundred herbs including Pian Jianghuang (processed Curcumae Rhizoma), Maozhaocao (Thunberg Fritillary Bulb root), Zhiqiao (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), Qingpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix), Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), Sheng Yiyiren (Coicis Semen), Doukou (Amomi Fructus Rotundus), Fuling (Poria), Sheng Ruxiang (raw Olibanum), Sheng Moyao (raw Myrrha), Xuejie (Draconis Sanguis), Wugong (Scolopendra), Quanxie (Scorpio), Sanleng (Sparganii Rhizoma), Ezhu (Curcumae Rhizoma), Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix), Song Beimu (Fritillariae Ussuriensis Bulbus), Tu Beimu (Bolbostemmatis Rhizoma), Zhe Beimu (Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus), Muli (Ostreae Concha), Haizao (Sargassum), Kunbu (Eckloniae Thallus), Sanqi (Notoginseng Radix), Bihu (Gecko), Shanqiaochong (Julus), Ganchan (dried Bufo), Sheng Shuizhi (raw Hirudo), Dilong (Pheretima), Danggui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), Huangjing (Polygonati Rhizoma), Sheng Huangqi (raw Astragali Radix), Shifu (Armadillidium), Yuanhu (Corydalis Rhizoma), Liangtoujian (Anemones Raddeanae Rhizoma), Lufengfang (Nidus Vespae), Huangyaozi (Dioscoreae Bulbiferae Rhizoma), Shancigu (Cremastrae Pseudobulbus), Xishuguo (Camptothecae Fructus), Qianglangchong (Catharsius), Dibiechong (Eupolyphaga), Mohanlian (Ecliptae Herba), Nüzhenzi (Ligustri Lucidi Fructus), Shayuanzi (Astragali Complanati Semen), Tusizi (Cuscutae Semen), Gouqizi (Lycii Fructus), Bajitian (Morindae Officinalis Radix), Dingxiang (Caryophylli Flos), Rougui (Cinnamomi Cortex), Mengchong (Tabanus), Baihuashe (Agkistrodon), Caoshe (Zaocys), Fabanxia (processed Pinelliae Rhizoma), Dannanxing (Arisaema cum Bile), Shandougen (Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix), Chonglou (Paridis Rhizoma), Tenghuang (Gamboges Resina), Kushen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix), Jixingzi (Impatientis Semen), Baishao (Paeoniae Alba Radix), Huaishanyao (Dioscoreae Rhizoma), Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma), Taoren (Persicae Semen), Honghua (Carthami Flos), Baiji (Bletillae Rhizoma), Fangfeng (Saposhnikoviae Radix), Xiyangshen (Panacis Quinquefolii Radix), Ercha (Catechu), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Jiangcan (Bombyx Batryticatus), Chanyi (Cicadae Periostracum), Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Xiakucao (Prunellae Spica), Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix), Shexiang (Moschus), Rengong Niuhuang (artificial Bovis Calculus), Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex), Daqingye (Isatidis Folium), Banlangen (Isatidis Radix), Baitouweng (Pulsatillae Radix), Guanzhong (Dryopteridis Rhizoma), Huaier (Trametes), Wuguteng (Urariae Caulis), Huaruishi (Oophoruastrux), Chishao (Paeoniae Rubrae Radix), Zaojiaoci (Gleditsiae Spina), Tieishuye (Cycadis Folium), Pugongying (Taraxaci Herba), Lujiaoshuang (Cervi Cornus Degelatinatum), Tianhuafen (Trichosanthis Radix), Beidougen (Menispermi Rhizoma), Zhizi (Gardeniae Fructus), Sheng Huaiemi (Sophorae Immaturus Flos), and more than a hundred other herbs, forming an especially large formula for treatment.

Later, the number of herbs was even gradually increased to more than 200. The overall approach was to simultaneously bolster the healthy root (fuzheng guben), clear heat and resolve toxin, cool blood and reduce swelling, and use toxin to attack toxin. Of course, the daily dose of each herb was very small; the daily dose of toxic herbs was controlled below 1% of the median lethal dose to ensure safety.

The patient took the medicine for five days and then stopped for two days. After taking the medicine, the patient's condition improved markedly; appetite was good and energy was adequate. Following the author's approach, after 30 days of purely TCM treatment, the patient was re-examined: the right inguinal tumor was 2.8×1.3 and the left was 2.5×0.9. The patient decided to stop interferon and use only Chinese medicine.

After continuing the medicine to 60 days, on February 23, 2023, another re-examination at the local hospital showed the right inguinal tumor had shrunk to 1.8×0.9 and the left to 1.3×0.5, and the blood flow signals within the tumors had significantly decreased, with a better effect than previous treatments. The patient and his family then felt at ease and decided to continue treatment with this approach thereafter.

By March 21, 2025, the patient's family reported that the most recent examination showed all of the patient's tumors had disappeared. During the 2 years and 8 months of purely TCM treatment following the author's large-formula multi-target anti-cancer approach, the patient's physical condition had remained good. To date, apart from several intervening infectious illnesses, there have been no major diseases or complications, and no damage to liver or kidney function. The patient has now entered a tumor-free, symptom-free survival state, managing household chores normally at home, no different from an ordinary person.

The author has repeatedly introduced this cancer treatment approach in detail, having written a great deal about it over time. Over the years, he has also conducted much research on the medicinal properties of the Chinese herbs he has tried, writing articles introducing them one after another.

The author's purpose in doing this is to hope that this treatment approach will be taken seriously, and to hope that younger medical researchers who aspire to conquer cancer will explore it further in this direction. To date, cancer-especially refractory advanced cancer-remains a worldwide medical challenge. Broad-spectrum, multi-target anti-cancer therapy with large formulas (or the so-called large-formula cocktail therapy) is a treatment approach that is feasible both from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine and from the standpoint of modern medical theory and pharmacology. But carrying out such complex research requires the lifelong dedication of many people before more precise medication regimens can be worked out.

The author is already 46 years old and has deeply realized that medical research requires lifelong passion and patience. He often regrets that, when he was young, he had to struggle to make a living and could not begin medical research earlier. He very much hopes that among the younger generation there will be successors willing to pursue lifelong research on this path the author is walking, seeking more effective and safer treatment regimens to benefit cancer patients.

This research approach involves little mysterious theory; most people can understand and master it. It is just that reading the literature and conducting daily clinical practice, along with continuously recording data and summarizing experience in practice, requires dedication.