Author: So TH1, Chan SK2, Lee VH3, Chen BZ4, Kong FM3, Lao LX5
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address: sth495@hku.hk.
<sup>2</sup>Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
<sup>3</sup>Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Clinical Oncology Center, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
<sup>4</sup>The Hong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
<sup>5</sup>School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Conference/Journal: Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol).
Date published: 2019 Jun 6
Other:
Pages: S0936-6555(19)30208-0 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.clon.2019.05.016. [Epub ahead of print] , Word Count: 249
Chinese medicine therapies in cancer treatment are very common in the East. Although it is usually classified as a form of complementary and alternative therapy in the West, Chinese medicine is an independent medical profession in Hong Kong and mainland China. It has a different perspective in understanding health and diseases compared with Western medicine. In oncology practice, whereas Western medicine focuses on direct tumour eradication by surgery, radiation therapy and systemic therapies, Chinese medicine focuses on restoring body balance and enhancing the body's defences (immunity), in addition to some cytotoxic herbal therapies. Most often patients, especially those in the East, receive both treatments. Chinese medicine is also commonly used to reduce side-effects from chemotherapy or radiation therapy, to aid recovery after an operation, to palliate symptoms and to address survivorship issues. However, this raises concerns of drug-herb interactions and toxicity in combination therapies. Commonly used Chinese medicine treatment modalities include acupuncture, moxibustion, diet therapy, prescribed Chinese medicine herbal decoction, single Chinese medicine herbs or supplements and tai chi. Although there is an increasing trend of Chinese medicine use in cancer patients in both the East and the West, the scientific evidence of safety and efficacy is often questioned by oncologists. This article reviews the current evidence in different Chinese medicine therapies in cancer management in both the East and the West.
Copyright © 2019 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS: Cancer management; Chinese medicine; herbal medicine; traditional Chinese medicine
PMID: 31178347 DOI: 10.1016/j.clon.2019.05.016