A Case Study: Over One Year of Pure TCM Treatment of Lung Cancer Patient Wang
Wang, female, 75 years old, from Chengde, Hebei Province. On May 18, 2021, examination at the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical College, Hebei, found suspicious pulmonary lesions (CT examination No. 810829): patchy opacities in the right upper lobe, with ill-defined, spiculated margins, traversing vessels, internal vacuoles, and traction on the local pleura; multiple small nodules with well-defined margins in both lungs; a ground-glass density opacity in the left upper lobe (Srs3, Img23) with blurred margins, about 1.0 cm in diameter; bilateral hila not enlarged. Tumor markers: carcinoembryonic antigen CEA was 5.81 (normal 0.0–3.4), non-small cell lung cancer-associated antigen Cyfra21-1 was 4.06 (normal 0–3.30), and pro-gastrin-releasing peptide was 101.90 (normal 0–68.3).Based on nodule size, characteristics, and tumor markers, lung cancer could basically be judged. The family considered the patient elderly and unable to endure surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, so they sought pure TCM treatment at Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, for one month. The disease progressed: the tumor more than doubled in size, with incessant coughing, poor appetite, and listlessness. On June 16, 2021, when the patient was reexamined at Chengde Central Hospital, the largest pulmonary nodule had grown to 2.8 cm × 2.0 cm, with a rapid doubling rate, indicating a high degree of malignancy.An acquaintance of the patient's daughter had previously sought my help for a family member's lung cancer, so on July 29, 2021, the patient's family contacted me remotely through that acquaintance. After reviewing the patient's data, I decided to treat this patient with the same approach I had used for lung cancer before. Treatment was based on modified Jiu Zhuan Huangjing Gao (Nine-Turn Polygonatum Paste) combined with Xi Huang Wan (Rhinoceros Yellow Pill), using Shexiang (musk), Chansu (toad venom), Dingxiang (clove), Malu chong (Julus millipede), Dilong (earthworm), Baiji (Bletilla), Chuanxiong (Sichuan lovage rhizome), Wugong (centipede), Quanxie (scorpion), raw Huangqi (Astragalus), Huangjing (Polygonatum), Danggui (Angelica), Yiyiren (Coix seed), Ruxiang (frankincense), Moyao (myrrh), Sanleng (Sparganium), Ezhu (Curcuma), Huaruishi (orchid stone), and Jinqiaomai (Fagopyrum cymosum).After about half a month of medication, the patient's coughing markedly improved and her mental state was much better. Both patient and family gained confidence in the treatment; thereafter, the regimen was fine-tuned moderately every two months. The patient's life state was good and the disease did not progress further. On December 16, 2021, a repeat CT at the local hospital showed the pulmonary nodules basically unchanged from half a year earlier (June 16, 2021).The reexamination showed treatment was effective: the previously rapidly growing tumor had stopped progressing. So the patient and her family no longer had other ideas and were willing to continue treatment with my regimen.On September 2, 2022, because coughing had recently increased, the patient asked me for some treatment advice remotely by video. During the video call, her mental state was good; she said her whole family was very satisfied with the TCM treatment over the past year. Because of the pandemic, she had also not returned to the hospital for reexamination for a long time.After inquiry, I considered that the recent coughing was caused by externally contracted disease triggering cor pulmonale (previous examinations had shown an enlarged heart), so I decided to prescribe a separate formula to treat the cough first.The medicine was a modified Ma Xing Er Chen Tang (Ephedra-Apricot + Two Aged Herbs Decoction): Fabanxia (processed Pinellia) 10 g, Juhong (tangerine red) 10 g, Fuling (Poria) 6 g, Zhigancao (honey-fried licorice) 3 g, Zhimahuang (honey-fried ephedra) 3 g, Xingren (apricot kernel) 6 g, Jinqiaomai (Fagopyrum) 30 g, Huainiuxi (Achyranthes) 10 g, Cheqianzi (plantain seed) 10 g, Zhuling (polyporus) 6 g, Yiyiren (Coix) 30 g, Wumei (smoked plum) 1 piece, fresh ginger 7 slices.3 doses, one dose daily, decocted in water and taken in two divided doses. I also judged the patient to have the condition of the Kidney failing to receive qi, and instructed her to simultaneously take the patent medicine Jinkui Shenqi Wan (Golden Cabinet Kidney-Qi Pill). Three days later, the patient's family reported that coughing had markedly improved after the medication. I then told them to take a few more doses to consolidate the effect and continue the previous anticancer regimen.The patient's general condition is now good. The patient herself and her family are unwilling to be reexamined or to use Western medicine; moreover, with the pandemic recurring, going to the hospital for reexamination is also troublesome. I therefore respected the family's choice and continued the original regimen to sustain the patient's life.This is an elderly lung cancer patient. Since diagnosis, her family has been unwilling to use more invasive methods for examination and treatment, so doctors could only rely on clinical experience to judge her as having lung cancer, and I could only guide medication based on clinical experience to control the disease. But in terms of treatment effect, I am fairly satisfied. For such an elderly patient, perhaps this choice is more appropriate than aggressive regimens with severe side effects. Of course, this patient is also the lucky type, which is why the treatment produced some effect.