TCM skillfully treats esophageal cancer

Mr. Zhang, 57 years old this year, began to have intermittent symptoms of dysphagia in the spring of 2011. He always felt that he couldn't swallow the food he ate. Mr. Zhang thought he had plum pit qi and didn't take it seriously. However, two months later, he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer during a physical examination organized by his unit, which scared Mr. Zhang. Since it was an early stage of esophageal cancer, the doctor recommended surgery to remove the tumor. Mr. Zhang also followed the doctor's advice and had surgery a few days later. He was discharged from the hospital after chemotherapy for another 2 months. However, in early summer this year, he had difficulty eating again, which progressively worsened, accompanied by symptoms of loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. So, Mr. Zhang came to the hospital for another check-up with trepidation.

Since the time interval between Mr. Zhang's last surgery and the relapse of his old illness was short, the doctor decided to use traditional Chinese medicine for treatment considering his physical recovery condition.

Traditional Chinese medicine advocates holistic concepts and syndrome differentiation and treatment. Through observation, auscultation, questioning and palpation, the doctor learned that Mr. Zhang occasionally felt chest distension, dry mouth and throat, accompanied by nausea and vomiting, poor appetite, thin and greasy tongue, reddish tongue coating, and thin and slippery pulse.

The syndrome is diagnosed as phlegm-qi obstruction type by traditional Chinese medicine, and the principle of treatment is to resolve phlegm, regulate qi, strengthen the spleen and harmonize the stomach.

The doctor told Mr. Zhang that this was a recurrence of esophageal cancer. From a Chinese medicine perspective, it is due to the stagnation of phlegm and qi and the discomfort in the esophagus, so he has a choking feeling when eating and finds food difficult to swallow. The nausea, vomiting and poor appetite are all caused by a weak spleen and stomach.

According to Mr. Zhang's specific condition, the doctor prescribed Liujunzi Decoction and Tangerine Peel and Bamboo Shavings Decoction, which include Codonopsis pilosula, Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria cocos, Pinellia ternata, tangerine peel, and Bamboo Shavings.

Mr. Zhang did not dare to take it lightly, and insisted on taking the medicine seriously as instructed by the doctor. After three courses of treatment, his previous symptoms disappeared, his appetite increased, and his mental state was also good. Now Mr. Zhang is living a more and more enjoyable life.