With the improvement of the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of lung cancer, it has the advantages of prolonging the survival time of lung cancer patients, reducing drug side effects, and improving the quality of life. In recent years, the combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine has become one of the important measures for treating lung cancer. Due to the high mortality rate and poor prognosis of lung cancer, timely combination of traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment is necessary once diagnosed to promote the physical recovery of early cancer patients and prolong the survival time of late cancer patients. Next, we will introduce the integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment methods for lung cancer.
The incidence of lung cancer is relatively high in China, and surgical treatment is the preferred method for the disease because the treatment effect is relatively rapid and direct. Early lung cancer patients can be cured through surgical treatment. At the same time, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy are also important measures for cancer patients to control the development of the disease. However, these methods cause significant harm to the patient's body. Therefore, in addition to the above treatments, traditional Chinese medicine treatment should be carried out simultaneously. The combination of the two reduces drug resistance and toxic side effects, regulates the body's immune system, and is more conducive to the elimination of cancer and the improvement of quality of life.
1. Combination of surgery and traditional Chinese medicine treatment
Lung cancer patients can have their tumors and small lesions removed through surgery, preventing cancer recurrence and metastasis. For perioperative patients, drugs that nourish the lungs and spleen can promote postoperative recovery; Patients in the stable period after surgery are mainly treated with drugs that can soften and dissolve nodules, strengthen the spleen and phlegm, which can improve the patient's immunity and effectively reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. The treatment cycle of traditional Chinese medicine is relatively long, usually 1 to 2 years, and it is necessary to take traditional Chinese medicine for a long time according to medical advice.
Combination therapy of chemotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine
Lung cancer patients can control cancer recurrence and metastasis through chemotherapy, but the application of chemotherapy drugs can bring a series of side effects. Patients often experience symptoms such as spleen kidney deficiency, spleen stomach disharmony, and qi and blood deficiency. At this time, the application of traditional Chinese medicine treatment has the effects of nourishing qi and blood, strengthening stomach qi, warming and supplementing spleen and kidney, reducing the pain caused by toxic side effects, and improving patients' tolerance to chemotherapy drugs. Chemotherapy drugs and traditional Chinese medicine treatment should be carried out simultaneously.
3. Combination therapy of radiotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine
Radiotherapy assimilation therapy is a method of controlling cancer recurrence and metastasis. Radiotherapy can damage qi yin, liver and kidney yin, while traditional Chinese medicine treatment has the effects of nourishing liver and kidney, nourishing qi and yin, reducing the side effects of chemotherapy on cancer patients, and enhancing the sensitivity of radiotherapy. Radiotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine treatment also need to be carried out simultaneously.
4. Combination therapy of targeted drugs and traditional Chinese medicine
With the development and popularization of targeted drugs in recent years, they have gradually been applied in the treatment process of cancer patients. However, the application of targeted drugs may cause symptoms such as oral mucosal inflammation and rash. The occurrence of side effects is related to insufficient qi and yin, and lung meridian stagnation and heat. At this time, flexible use of traditional Chinese medicine that can invigorate the spleen, dispel dampness, clear heat and phlegm can alleviate the toxic side effects of targeted drugs, and the two methods also need to be carried out simultaneously.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a method of treating cancer that has emerged in recent years, bringing new hope to patients. Immunotherapy is fundamentally different from radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Immunotherapy targets immune cells, not cancer cells, and has the characteristics of good tolerance and efficacy. Immunotherapy in traditional Chinese medicine refers to the use of nourishing traditional Chinese medicines such as ginseng, wolfberry, cordyceps, etc., which can enhance immune function and inhibit tumor development.
6. Traditional Chinese Medicine Maintenance Treatment
After surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, the patient's disease is in a stable period, and traditional Chinese medicine can be taken for maintenance treatment, mainly for detoxification, dispersing nodules, strengthening the spleen, and resolving phlegm. Generally, a treatment cycle of three months can significantly improve the quality of life of patients.
7 Palliative treatment
For patients with advanced cancer, surgery cannot be performed, and the effect of radiotherapy and chemotherapy is not ideal, even the patient's condition has reached the end of life. At this time, traditional Chinese medicine treatment plays a leading role. Through traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture and moxibustion, drug external application and other methods to alleviate the pain of cancer patients, it can also avoid the pain caused by drug injection, which becomes an important measure to improve the quality of life and reduce pain in the end of life.