Clinical Experience in Restoring Physical Strength in Lung Cancer Patients with Hemoptysis
Most patients with advanced lung cancer experience hemoptysis. In some patients the bleeding is profuse, and after a hemoptysis their physical strength declines markedly, presenting symptoms of dual deficiency of qi and yin. In such cases treatment should follow the principle of simultaneously supplementing qi and yin, with the moderate addition of a few hemostatic herbs.
The author treated a lung cancer patient surnamed Yin, a native of Yunnan Province, who had recently suffered two episodes of hemoptysis. Afterward his strength declined sharply; he was frail and listless, and became short of breath when walking. His family asked the author for remote help. On inquiry the patient reported fatigue, a weary spirit, and a poor appetite. It was therefore decided to treat him with a modification of Four-Gentlemen Decoction combined with Generating the Pulse Powder.
Prescription: American ginseng (Xiyangshen, Radix Panacis Quinquefolii) 6g; white atractylodes (Baizhu, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) 6g; Poria (Fuling, Poria) 6g; honey-fried licorice (Zhigancao, Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata) 6g; Ophiopogon (Maidong, Radix Ophiopogonis) 15g; Asparagus (Tiandong, Radix Asparagi) 15g; Schisandra (Wuweizi, Fructus Schisandrae) 10g; Glehnia (Beishashen, Radix Glehniae) 15g; Agrimonia (Xianhecao, Herba Agrimoniae) 30g; Bletilla (Baiji, Rhizoma Bletillae) 15g.
This formula is based on the combination of Four-Gentlemen Decoction (American ginseng, white atractylodes, Poria, honey-fried licorice) and Generating the Pulse Powder (American ginseng, Ophiopogon, Schisandra), to which Glehnia and Asparagus are added to supplement lung yin, while Agrimonia and Bletilla are added to stop bleeding. Among these, Agrimonia also has anticancer and strength-restoring effects, and Bletilla additionally reduces swelling.
After taking two doses the patient's condition improved markedly. He was then instructed to continue drinking this decoction together with the author's anticancer pills. After several more days his spirit and strength recovered very well.
In treating patients with advanced cancer, the emphasis should be on improving quality of life and prolonging survival. For patients with advanced cancer, supporting zheng qi (vital qi) is more important than expelling xie qi (pathogenic factors). Formulas to support vital qi should not be overly complex; they should focus on resolving the patient's primary problem, while secondary issues are set aside for the time being, so as not to gild the lily and impair the therapeutic effect.