often thought of as a dying man.
In fact, cancer is a cold-blooded killer depriving many of their precious lives.
Though doctors have been trying their best to conquer this disease since the beginning of
the 20th century, they are constantly frustrated by their inability to find a reliable cure.
With the current developments in technology, however, doctors are more and more
encouraged by the medical breakthroughs in coping with this killer disease.
Cancer is difficult to defeat because the cancer cells spread rapidly within the
affected area as well as the other parts of the body. A doctor’s failure to detect this
abnormal development may spell a patient’s doom because, usually, the correct diagnosis
can only be confirmed when it is already too late and at a stage when effective cure can
no longer be assured. Moreover, the causes of cancer and the mechanism behind its
growth are still a medical mystery. Nevertheless, numerous persons have fought and ultimately survived the disease.
Patients who suffer from first stage cancers of the uterus, breast, stomach, esophagus and
laryngopharynx are found to have a survival rate of 90%. Even patients who are
unfortunate to be stricken with liver cancer now have better chances of prolonging their
lives for five years more. In effect, the early discovery and treatment of cancer can
guarantee, at least, an acceptable measure of success in totally eradicating the disease.
Currently, medical experts the world over persist in their study of cancer to seek for new
and recommendable healing modalities. Unfortunately, applications of new inventions
over a sustained period expose the patients to equally harmful side effects and,
consequently, place the doctors in a dilemma. These new discoveries and opportunities
for treatment are now posing new challenges for oncologists and other cancer-specialized physicians.
herein are brief explanations of some of the most applied treatments.
1. Surgical Treatment
At the early stage, removal of the cancer nidus by surgery is the most
effective way of treatment. Not only is it the most orthodox, but it is also the
most effective of treatments. Full recuperation can be achieved without
exception. In cases where the cancer cells metastasized or transferred to the other parts of the body, the direct symptom arising from cancer development can
likewise be removed by surgery.
There are still restrictions to the surgical method, however. The partial
removal in any degree of any part of the body will inevitably result in new injury.
As the normal body structures are cut apart, blood vessels, the lymph and neural
systems are shut off in the course of the operation. Sometimes, more harmful
consequences result. Provided the cancer cells have already intruded into vital
internal organs and the medical crew must indeed go through with the drastic
operation, safety issues and concerns must necessarily be addressed.
In recent years, the laser or entoptic mirror method of operation has
attracted much attention in the medical sector because, not only does it enjoy a
high success rate, it also reduces body injury and post-surgery complications.
The selection of the proper method is still ultimately subject to the prudent
appraisal of the attending physicians.
2. Anti-Cancer Drugs Treatment
The use of anti-cancer drugs is most effective in the treatment of leukemia
and malignant lymphoma. In addition, it is also applicable to the elimination of
cancer cells that cannot be completely removed by operation. In the employment
of anti-cancer drugs, however, normal cells are destroyed together with the cancer
cells and violent side effects are normally manifested. Once the digestive,
hematopoietic and lymphoid systems are disrupted, white blood cells decline, loss
of appetite is experienced and the patient is generally sapped of his physical
energy. Contrary to the purpose of healing, incomplete metabolism and the consequent accumulation of drugs within the body that may well exceed the range
that the patient could endure may trigger cachexia or the general wasting away of
the body or weakening of the brain.
Common side effects of anti-cancer drugs include:
Inhibition of the bone marrow function: due to the increase in white
blood cells, blood platelets, red blood cells, hemoglobin, and the
decline of the immune system, symptoms such as bacterial infection,
fever, bleeding and exhaustion may be notice.
Decline in enterogastrone function: thirst, anorexia, nausea, vomiting,
inflammation of mucous membrane of the mouth, ulcer, constipation,
diarrhea, hemorrhage in gastrointestinal tract, abdominal pain.
Weakening of the immune system: incapability of identifying normal
from abnormal cells and incapability of inhibiting growth of cancer
cells that may lead to metastasis.
Attenuation of kidney function: liver pain and emergence of jaundice.
Attenuation of the heart: dilation of heart valves, puffiness of limbs
and face caused by disturbance in the blood circulation.
Attenuation of lung function: intermittent hepatitis, over inflation of
lungs, fever, cough, and dyspnea or difficulty in breathing.
Influence on neural system: paralysis of hands and feet, abnormal
feelings arising from peripheral neuritis.
Baldness: loss of hair may affect the patient’s emotion; when one is
depressed, free radicals that increase cancer cells may be activated.
3. Radiotherapy
Radioactive rays inflict tremendous casualties among the young,
uncontrollable cells. Radioactivity can destroy cancer cell growth and can even
be applied on a localized basis concentrating on the particular invaded body part.
This modality is likewise well accepted in eliminating cancer cells that cannot be
completely removed by surgery.
Although radioactive rays can totally destroy cancer cells, the treatment
can prove harmful even to the healthy, normal cells. It is, therefore, inappropriate
to employ radiotherapy on patients who are in the final stage of cancer and whose
physical condition is extremely weak.
Common side effects of radiotherapy are:
Uncontrollable flare-ups, headache, vertigo, attenuation of the
immune system;
Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, abdominal distension and
diarrhea;
Decrease in white blood cells and blood platelets resulting from the
inhibited production of bone marrow and the consequent
hematopoietic disorder;
Possible side effects on other parts of the body:
Skin symptoms: flushing, itching, baldness, pigment precipitation,
ulceration, congestion, edema, blisters and ulcers;
Symptoms in the mouth cavity: inflammation of the mucous
membrane of the mouth, thirst, alteration or complete deprivation of the senses of taste and smell due to the atrophy of the salivary
gland;
Symptoms in the brain: encephalatrophy, brain necrosis, myelitis
and disturbance or listlessness in feelings and movements.
Symptoms in the lungs: pneumonia, cough, expectoration and fever.
medicine would seem to be a blessing with its long history in the course of 5000 years
and its complementary actions in relieving the harmful results in the application of
western medicine. There remains a considerable amount of records dealing with
pathogenic logic, subjective symptoms and disease related features on the human body
and recorded treatments in ancient Chinese documents. Among these historical accounts,
numerous volumes deal with cancer-related illnesses. For example, “Regularity and
theory of cancer and contained conclusions drawn from successful treatments. They
likewise contained detailed interpretations of theories and methods that can be deemed
relevant even today. Later, detailed introduction to the books will be provided.
Chinese medicine enjoys the reputation as the “essence of clinical experience over
thousands of years” because results are achieved and gathered through continuous
experimentations and tests and, in no way based on hypothesis or deduction. Vastly different from ingredients used in western medicine, Chinese medicine boasts of
therapeutic effects that are complementary to western medicine in that it generally
succeeds in proving an overall healing without further inflicting the patient with painful
side effects.
Table 1: Current Situation of the Effects of Anti-Cancer Agents
Effect Extended Tumor Types
Group Treatment longevity Shrunk Of Cancer
1
2
3
4 X X Acute lymphemia
Most popular
Cancer of children
Breast cancer
Small-cell carcinoma of lung
Stomach cancer
Non small-cell carcinoma of lung
X Cervical cancer
Large intestine cancer Liver cancer
X Pancreatic cancer
Hypothyroid cancer Stomach cancer
(quoted from Daily News, November 12, 1995 [Consultation 5 of Anti-cancer Agent].) If western medicine is defined as partial treatment, then Chinese medicine shall be
defined as overall treatment. Only with the artful integration of both can we effectively
fight against cancer.
In fact, most Chinese traditional medicine possesses the necessary therapeutic
property to fight cancer. For example, ingredients of current anti-cancer drugs are all
derived from natural plants that commonly form the effective contents of Chinese
medicine. In addition, Chinese medicine is especially renowned for its nutritional value
and tonic effect that can activate the immune system of the body. Once the immune
system is enhanced, the body can by itself inhibit the reproduction of cancer cells and
ultimately, destroy them. With each successful case, it is becoming an indisputable fact
that healing becomes much more effective through the combined use of Chinese
medicine, anti-cancer drugs and radiotherapy. Such practice is even conducive to easier and faster recovery after surgery.
both share a common goal. As Chinese medicine boasts of special theories and features,
there are a number of differences in the two modalities. Simply speaking, the advantages
of using Chinese medicine rectify the disadvantages or inadequacies of western medicine. Following is a brief discussion on the medical orientation of Chinese traditional
medicine:
(1) Concept of Wholism
From an integral perspective, Chinese medicine takes the whole body into
consideration when treating illness. Since cancer affects the whole body, Chinese
medicine does not pay attention solely on the afflicted body part but stresses the
enhancement of the immune system as a whole. Chinese medicine advocates
above all the necessity to remove the cancer nidus to prevent its uncontrolled
proliferation as well as the possibility of metastasis.
(2) Vital vs. Malignant Doctrine
All pathogens are considered “malignant” in Chinese medicine while body
resistance against disease is viewed as “vital”. Other than emotional stress that
induces production of cancer pathogens, there are still more reasons why this
situation exists; to mention some, stagnation of the qi (a morbid condition since
the circulation of qi is impeded leading to localized obstruction:, blood stasis
(blood stagnation in certain areas of the body due to the sluggish flow of qi or
blood and trauma), noxious heat (pathogenic and noxious qi), accumulation of
dampness or humidity and accumulation of phlegm (phlegm remain in certain
areas of the body).
The vital qi constitutes of four elements such as qi, blood, yin and yang.
Cancer arises from the insufficiency of the vital qi and the malignant qi
immediately moves in to fill the breach. With the inadequate supply of vital qi,
all the vital organs of the body start to enervate. In the so-called “pre-ailment” stage, the most important approach of
Chinese medicine is the prevention of cancer through the maintenance of body
resistance and constant accumulation of vital qi. The Chinese saying
“Malignance withdraws in face of the vital qi” clearly expresses this firm belief.
The occurrence of cancer can be compared to the combat between vital and
malignant qi. In case the vital qi recovers and increasingly strengthens, the
malignant qi will wane and the illness will gradually disappear. Contrarily, if the
malignant qi is given the opportunity to intensify while the vital qi fades, the
physical state of the patient will deteriorate and will be driven to a terminal state.
(3) Comprehensive Diagnosis
(Diagnosis and treatment based on overall analysis of symptoms and
signs, the cause, nature and location of the illness, and the patient’s physical
condition according to basic theories of traditional Chinese medicine”
Another unique feature of Chinese medicine lies on the affirmation of
“syndrome” (a term to collectively summarize certain symptoms and signs
according to the theories of traditional Chinese medicine). Simply put, different
locations of cancer and different degrees of deterioration lead to different
syndrome. “Comprehensive diagnosis”, therefore, is the most distinctive feature
of Chinese medicine in that it fits efficient prescription to the special or particular
states of illness.
The comprehensive diagnosis involves: the eight principal syndromes
(serving as guidelines in diagnosis, namely, yin and yang, exterior and interior,
cold and heat, deficient and excessive syndromes); differentiation of diseases according to pathological changes of the viscera and their interrelations;
differentiation of syndromes according to the state of qi and blood; analysis and
differentiation of febrile diseases in accordance with the theory of the six channels
(namely, the Taitin, Shaoyin, Jueyin, Yangming, Taiyang, and Shaoyang
channels); and the differentiation of syndromes according to the pathological
changes of tri-jiao (including upper-, middle-, and lower-jiao, the upper of which
houses the heart and lungs; the middle of which, the spleen and stomach, the
lower-jiao, the liver, kidney, urinary bladder, small and large intestines). The
treatment of cancer concerns three main items: the eight principal syndromes,
differentiation of diseases according to pathological changes of the viscera and
their interrelations; and the differentiation of syndromes according to the state of
qi and blood. The principle of “strengthening the body resistance to eliminate
pathogenic factors” generally includes: hemostasis by invigorating qi (treating
hemorrhage due to deficiency of qi with drugs); nourishing yin and
supplementing yang, clearing away heat and toxic material, regulating the
circulation of qi (a therapy using medicines that promote the flow of qi, check its
upward adverse flow, and replenish it to treat stagnation, adverse flow and
deficiency of qi), promoting blood circulation by removing blood stasis, removing
dampness and phlegm, dissolving the hard lumps, softening and dissolving hard
masses ( a therapy for masses formed by accumulation of phlegm and blood
stasis); treating the toxic disease with poisonous agents, etc. With reference to
these principles, we can diagnose cancer and work out specific remedies together
with the appropriate selection of medication to soothe, if not cure it.
(4) Function Adjustment
Chinese medicine boasts of stable and mild therapeutic efficacy with very
slight side effects. Western medicine, on the other hand, is quite known for the
harmful and uncomfortable side effects that plague the patient under treatment.
Undeniably, side effects seem to be a necessary evil in the use of anti-cancer
drugs, but in employing Chinese medicine, side effects are kept to a minimum
through the proper balance of the medical ingredients. Significantly, Chinese
medicine not only improves the therapeutic efficacy of cancer treatment, it likewise fortifies the whole immune system of the patient.
cons. Western medicine, with its espousal of radical operation, use of anti-cancer agents
and radioactive rays, emphasizes the swift and immediate cure of cancer which cannot be
achieved by Chinese medicine. While we are keen on the strong therapeutic efficacy of
Western medicine, we cannot ignore the very serious side effects of this modality that
could do as much harm as the cancer itself. In this respect, the stable and mil