Can Chinese medicine cure advanced gallbladder cancer?

Primary gallbladder cancer is one of the common malignant tumors of the biliary system, ranking fifth among digestive tract tumors in my country, with an incidence rate of about 0.75-1.2% of all cancers, and has been increasing in recent years. The cause of gallbladder cancer is still unclear, but it is speculated to be related to the long-term stimulation of cholelithiasis, and 70-96.9% of patients have concurrent gallbladder stones.

The onset of the disease is related to diet, bacterial infection, parasites, and gallbladder papilloma. The mechanism is that chronic stimulation of the gallbladder mucosa by stones or foreign bodies may cause mutation of mucosal epithelial cells and malignant transformation. Gallbladder stones are often accompanied by chronic cholecystitis, and long-term chronic inflammation causes cancer.

Gallbladder cancer can be divided into scirrhous cancer, adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, pigmented carcinoma and papillary carcinoma. About 75%-90% are well-differentiated adenocarcinomas, 10% are undifferentiated carcinomas, and squamous cell carcinomas account for less than 10%.

The prognosis of this disease is poor, and more than 80% of patients die within one year after diagnosis. However, there are some case reports in China about patients who have survived for many years after surgical resection of gallbladder cancer combined with traditional Chinese medicine treatment, supplemented by diet therapy or qigong.

Chinese medicine treatment and efficacy

TCM treatment of gallbladder cancer is divided into several methods: syndrome differentiation and treatment, single prescription treatment and acupuncture treatment. Currently, most TCM treatments for gallbladder cancer are performed after surgery, or in combination with chemotherapy. However, there are also reports of patients who are unable to undergo surgery or are unwilling to undergo surgery and are treated with Chinese medicine alone.

Syndrome differentiation and treatment

Clinically, different syndrome types are classified according to the specific symptoms and signs of the patients. For stasis type, damp-heat type and fire toxicity type, Da Chaihu Tang is used as the main prescription, and the prescription is modified according to the symptoms; while for deficiency of vital energy type, Bazhen Tang combined with Xiaoyao Powder is used as the main prescription for treatment.

1) Stasis type:

Treatment: Soothe the liver and regulate qi, reduce adverse reactions and relieve pain

Prescription: 10 grams of Bupleurum, 10 grams of Scutellaria, 12 grams of Citrus aurantium, 15 grams of White Peony, 12 grams of Pinellia, 6 grams of Citrus Reticulata, 10 grams of Trillium, 10 grams of Curcuma, 18 grams of Hedyotis diffusa, 15 grams of malt, 6 grams of Rhubarb, and 10 grams of Atractylodes.

2) Damp-heat type:

Treatment method: Clear away heat and dampness, soothe the liver and regulate qi. Prescription: 12 grams of Bupleurum, 10 grams of Scutellaria, 15 grams of Artemisia Capillaris, 9 grams of Rhubarb, 12 grams of Pinellia, 10 grams of Curcuma, 15 grams of Lysimachia, 15 grams of Hedyotis diffusa, 12 grams of Citrus aurantium, 12 grams of Malt, 10 grams of Gardenia, 6 grams of Tangerine peel, and 12 grams of Atractylodes.

3) Fire poison type:

Treatment: Purging fire and detoxifying, soothing the liver and clearing away heat

Prescription: 10 grams of bupleurum, 10 grams of scutellaria, 9 grams of rhubarb (added later), 10 grams of immature bitter orange, 10 grams of gardenia, 30 grams of gypsum, 15 grams of capillaris, 30 grams of imperata root, 6 grams of coptis, 15 grams of white peony root, 15 grams of oldenlandia diffusa, and 18 grams of malt.

4) Deficiency of vital energy type:

Treatment: Nourish both Qi and blood, strengthen the spleen and benefit the kidneys

Prescription: 20 grams of Pseudostellaria baicalensis, 30 grams of Astragalus membranaceus, 10 grams of Atractylodes macrocephala, 12 grams of Poria cocos, 6 grams of Tangerine peel, 12 grams of Polygonatum sibiricum, 30 grams of Millettia reticulata, 15 grams of White Peony Root, 10 grams of Epimedium, 12 grams of Rehmannia glutinosa, 15 grams of Malt, and 15 grams of Oldenlandia diffusa.