A Case of Effective TCM Treatment for Pleural Mesothelioma with Multiple Metastases
The patient, Liu, 68, a resident of Chongqing, on September 21, 2021, presented with chest tightness and other discomfort and underwent radiographic examination. The results showed multiple nodular opacities in both lungs, multiple nodular soft-tissue opacities visible on the lateral and medial pleura of the left chest, and left pleural effusion. The third rib of the left chest showed osteolytic bone changes, suspected bone metastasis. The local hospital's preliminary diagnosis was suspicious pleural mesothelioma, suspicious pulmonary nodules, and suspected metastatic bone tumor.
This tumor with multiple metastases was already at an advanced stage with no surgical opportunity, and the patient himself was unwilling to undergo further examination and treatment. In April 2022, introduced by a relative (a staff member at the Chongqing Institute of Chinese Materia Medica), the patient contacted me, hoping I could provide pure TCM treatment remotely over the internet.
The survival time for malignant pleural mesothelioma is short; pleural effusion is an inescapable nightmare for pleural mesothelioma patients. Most of the pleural mesothelioma patients I have seen died because pleural effusion could not be controlled. Survival for mesothelioma is mostly 8–14 months; a few patients can live over 2 years after surgery and chemoradiotherapy. But advanced patients who have lost surgical opportunity and already have multiple metastases mostly die within a year.
I have treated multiple cases of pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, and deeply feel that in TCM treatment of pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, the focus should be on controlling pleural and ascites effusion. I previously treated one mesothelioma patient with pure TCM; after controlling the ascites, the patient survived for over 8 years. Such a long survival is rare among mesothelioma patients.
Therefore, in treating this suspected mesothelioma patient who already had multiple metastases and pleural effusion, I also focused on controlling the pleural fluid, modifying Xihuang Pills. The medicinals used were: shenghuangqi (Raw Astragalus), yiyiren (Coix seed), danggui (Angelica sinensis), huangjing (Polygonatum), chansu (Toad venom), artificial shexiang (Musk), ruxiang (Frankincense), moyao (Myrrh), artificial niuhuang (Cow bezoar), pianbing (Borneol), xuanshen (Scrophularia), chuanbei (Fritillaria), muli (Oyster shell), biejia (Carapax Trionycis), fuling (Poria), zhuling (Polyporus), ma lu (Julus), liangtoujian, sanleng (Sparganium), ezhu (Curcuma zedoaria), xiyangshen (American ginseng), maidong (Ophiopogon tuber), wuweizi (Schisandra), niuxi (Achyranthes), cheqianzi (Plantago seed), and huaruishi (limonite), made into pills for easy taking.
After two months of medication, the patient contacted me, reporting no obvious adverse reactions after taking the medicine and a good living condition. I told him to continue the original regimen for another two months before re-examination.
On August 16, the patient re-examined at Jiangjin District Third People's Hospital in Chongqing (imaging no. 60199). The results showed: compared with September 21, 2021, some nodular opacities had decreased, the rest showed no enlargement, no definite change in pleural lesions, and the left pleural effusion had significantly absorbed compared with the previous film.
The treatment effect was obvious. Based on my previous experience, mesothelioma patients whose pleural or ascitic effusion is controlled can often survive with the tumor for a long time. The patient is currently in good condition with no obvious discomfort. The patient and family are also satisfied with the effect of this maintenance treatment and hope to continue with pure TCM. I therefore further modified the previous formula by adding wugong (Centipede), quanxie (Scorpion), bihu (Gecko), and shancigu (Cremastra appendiculata) to enhance the effect of attacking toxin and dispersing lumps.
People often say that Chinese medicine is just a placebo, and I find it hard to agree. Although I strongly oppose exaggerating the efficacy of TCM and blowing it as omnipotent, I also quite dislike the claim that Chinese medicine is just a placebo. It is very difficult for TCM to cure cancer, but it is still possible to help patients live longer with the disease.
This patient used Chinese medicine for four months at a total cost of only 6,200 yuan in herbal fees, averaging about 50 yuan per day—far less than the cost of modern medicine. Yet the nodules shrank and the pleural fluid was significantly absorbed. So for lucky patients, Chinese medicine is indeed not a placebo. Of course, the proportion of TCM cancer treatments that are effective is not high; I always try my best to persuade patients to first consider comprehensive treatment options with higher success rates, and only consider pure Chinese medicine when there is no other way out.