Cancer Complications ⁽¹⁷⁾

Pleural effusion (fluid in the pleural cavity) is a finding that is often reported on imaging examinations in patients with tumors or other related diseases. Pleural effusion is divided into two types: inflammatory pleural effusion and malignant pleural effusion. The former is mostly caused by…

Ipilimumab, also known as Y-drug or anti-CTLA4 monoclonal antibody, is a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb that binds to cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4). Since March 25, 2011, when the US FDA approved Yervoy (3 mg/kg) monotherapy for unresectable or metastatic melanoma, more…

Family members of cancer patients often ask me whether they should use traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as an adjunct during radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Their attending Western-medicine oncologists tell them, in very certain terms, that they should not, and even forbid them from using any TCM…

Si Cao Tang is a decoction I devised myself: Xianhe Cao (Agrimonia, fresh 100–300 g, dried 30–100 g), Fengwei Cao (Pteris, fresh 100–200 g, dried 30–100 g), Yimucao (Motherwort, fresh 30–100 g, dried 10–30 g), and Hanlian Cao (Eclipta, fresh 30–100 g, dried 10–30 g).

Ningxue Tang is a contemporary empirical formula composed of: Xianhecao (Agrimonia pilosa) 30 g, Mohanlian (Eclipta prostrata) 30 g, Shengdihuang (raw Rehmannia) 20 g, Baimaogen (Imperata cylindrica rhizome) 15 g, Baiji (Bletilla striata) 15 g, Bailian (Ampelopsis japonica) 15 g, Ejiao (Asini Corii Colla, donkey-hide gelatin) 10 g, Cebai Tan (charred Biota…

Cancer patients frequently develop bleeding complications, such as gastric bleeding in gastric cancer patients, bloody stools in colorectal cancer patients or those with radiation enteritis, vaginal bleeding in cervical and vaginal cancer patients, hemoptysis in lung or laryngeal cancer patients, hematuria in kidney and bladder…

Cancer patients, whether with gastric cancer or other cancers, may develop gastric bleeding due to gastric ulcer or gastric perforation caused by various factors. Gastric bleeding is an emergency requiring immediate management; if not handled properly, the patient's life is at risk. Especially in advanced…

Zhuling Tang (Polyporus Decoction) is a classic famous formula from the Shanghan Lun. The Shanghan Lun mentions it in three original passages: If the pulse is floating with fever, thirst with desire to drink, and difficult urination, Zhuling Tang governs. (223) In Yangming disease, if…

Some cancer patients in the advanced stage repeatedly develop purpura on the skin. Modern medicine recognizes three possible causes: first, thrombocytopenia; second, capillary lesions; third, coagulation disorders. All three are highly likely in advanced cancer patients, so purpura frequently appears on their skin. Whatever the…

Herpes zoster, known in TCM as "snake-coiling sores" (Shechuanchuang), is also called by folk names such as "spider sore" and "waist-coiling snake cinnabar." Immunocompromised patients are highly prone to herpes zoster, and many cancer patients have suffered from it. Once it appears, the patient experiences…