Four major TCM classifications of breast cancer

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that breast cancer is mostly caused by liver qi stagnation. As the disease progresses, symptoms of qi stagnation and blood stasis appear. Stagnation of qi and blood will generate heat for a long time, causing the yin toxin to flourish, which will eventually lead to qi and blood deficiency over time. Traditional Chinese medicine generally divides breast cancer into four types: liver qi stagnation type, Chong and Ren disorder type, toxic heat accumulation type, and qi and blood deficiency type. Different types of breast cancer have different clinical symptoms.

Breast cancer of liver qi stagnation type

Breast cancer of liver qi stagnation type is often caused by emotional hurt and unfulfilled wishes. Liver qi stagnation can lead to swelling and pain in the flanks, irritability, and breast lumps like stones. The tongue coating is thin yellow or thin white, the tongue is red with petechiae, and the pulse is stringy and strong.

Chong-Ren Disorder Type Breast Cancer

Breast cancer with Chong and Ren disorders may present as a lump in the breast, with the skin and core touching each other, hard as a rock, and cannot be moved, accompanied by soreness of waist and knees, irregular menstruation in women, spermatorrhea, impotence, fever in the five parts of the body in men, pale tongue without coating, rarely cracked, and weak pulse.

Breast cancer with toxic heat accumulation

Breast cancer of the toxic heat accumulation type may be manifested by slight fever, rapid enlargement of breast lumps, ulceration, rock-like or lotus-like shapes, inverted nipples, red tongue, peeling fur, and weak and rapid pulse.

Qi and blood deficiency type breast cancer

Qi and blood deficiency breast cancer can be manifested as dizziness, tinnitus, weight loss, fever in the five parts of the body, pale complexion, restless sleep, breast lumps and ulcers, dark purple color, occasional sewage, and foul odor. The tongue is red without coating or with yellow-white coating, and the pulse is slippery and rapid.