Understanding of the pathogenesis of brain cancer by traditional Chinese and western medicine

The etiology and pathogenesis of brain cancer are the same as tumors in other parts of the body. It is not yet very clear. A large number of studies have shown that the oncogenes on chromosomes plus acquired predisposing factors can cause it to occur. Traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine are two completely different theoretical systems, and their understanding of the pathogenesis of brain cancer is also different.

1. TCM’s understanding of the pathogenesis of brain cancer

Brain cancer belongs to the category of headache and head wind in traditional Chinese medicine. The main causes of brain cancer are kidney deficiency, marrow malnutrition, liver wind movement, evil toxins disturbing the clear orifices, phlegm blocking the brain meridians, and blood and qi stagnation. The head is the meeting point of all yang, the general manager of human spirit, and it is the most tolerant of evil qi. If it is affected by the six evil toxins, it will directly attack the brain orifices or evil qi will invade the upper part of the body, qi transformation will be unfavorable, meridians will be blocked, stasis and turbidity will stagnate, and all internal and external evils will invade the brain and form a mass, which will develop into brain cancer. The causes of brain cancer can be summarized as internal and external. The internal cause is the quality factor or susceptibility factor, and the external cause is the inducing factor or the promoting factor. The occurrence of brain cancer is the result of the interaction of the two factors.

2. Western medicine’s understanding of the pathogenesis of brain cancer

Tumor molecular biology studies have shown that the occurrence and development of brain cancer are related to two types of genes, namely tumor genes and anti-tumor genes. The activation and transitional expression of tumor genes induce tumor formation, while the presence and expression of anti-tumor genes help inhibit the occurrence of tumors. Under normal circumstances, tumor genes can exist in normal cells but do not express tumor characteristics. When such cells are stimulated by viruses, radiation, or chemicals, the tumor genes in the cells are activated and expressed, rapidly amplified, and thus form tumor entities.