Recently, I have read academician Tang Zhaoyou's new book “Elimination and Transformation Should Carry Out Simultaneously” finishing it almost in one sitting (Figure 50). The viewpoints put forward were like a breeze blowing into my heart and lungs, I seemed to see that a new way to treat cancer had begun. I immediately sent an email to academician Tang, extending greetings to his wife as well. The next day his replied email read, “Mrs. Li has suffered from breast cancer for three years, after surgery she received a one-time administration of Herceptin therapy, but there were too many side effects, so she quit, she also did not have chemotherapy, so far there is no recurrence…”
Academician Tang’s wife, Professor Li Qisong was one of my first teachers of gastroenterology. A few years ago, she suffered from breast cancer and had surgical removal. I once asked her what treatments she had taken after the surgery. She said, “Traditional Chinese medicine and swimming”. Professor Li is an Integrative Medicine specialist, the traditional Chinese medicine she prescribed “Song You Yin” can promote apoptosis of cancer cells, decrease molecular transferases and gene expression, reducing cancer metastasis. She told me that the reason they moved into their present residential community was because there was swimming pool. She jokingly said, “Swimming is a cancer campaign”(Figure 51).
In the 1970s, when I was engaged in the advanced study of digestive diseases in Shanghai Zhongshan Hospital, the Academician Tang had already set up the team that was specialized in treating liver cancer. I was lucky that I could further study in his liver cancer ward where I began to get involved in liver cancer research. Since then, I was repeatedly invited to give lectures about ‘Markers of Liver Cancer’ in academic conferences held in Shanghai. Later I was invited to write some articles for his monograph ‘Primary Liver Cancer’. We have been friends for decades, I know that academician Tang is a knowledgeable, experienced and innovative ‘big expert’ with broad thinking and outstanding achievements. I also have unwittingly accepted his ideas and perspectives.
I am very pleased that our decade of cancer treatments, persistence and work were all verified in the academician Tang’s book ‘Elimination and Transformation Should Carry Out Simultaneously’.
“Cancer is a dynamic process caused by multiple factors, formed in multiple stages with multiple genes involved… Comprehensive treatment and individualized treatment will be the direction of clinical cancer treatment.
In the past and for more than a century, scientists have focused on how to eliminate tumors with the focus towards tumors rather than the patients…overlooking the powerful systemic cancer-fighting ability.
With the comprehensive treatment model…there will be a development from the model of ‘tumor elimination + tumor elimination’ to a ‘tumor elimination + tumor transformation / body transformation’ mode.
With individualized treatment…there may appear the combination of ‘individualized treatment in molecular level’ and ‘individualized treatment in overall level’.
Even if the tumor is small, cancer cells may exist in the circulatory system and it is difficult for current therapies to achieve 100% tumor eradication. For residual tumors, although their number may be less than 1% of the original ones, they may lead to cancer recurrence and ultimately kill the patient.
‘Tumor eradication’ is a double-edged sword, if the tumor cannot be completely removed, the tumor remnants will accelerate the growth and spread to other parts.”
Radiation therapy has its own pros and cons. Statistically, cancer patients who have received radical radiotherapy, still have more than 60% of residual tumors existing.
Chemotherapy is also a double-edged sword…Cancer cells can become resistant to chemotherapy…and can even enhance the degree of malignancy of residual tumors (invasion and metastasis ability). Current molecular targeted therapy has positive effects on the molecular level, but it can also enhance the invasion and metastasis capacity of residual tumors.
The immune system plays a strategic role in the cancer campaign, which can not be ignored…
TCM treatment focuses on balance and restoration rather than entirely destroying the tumor…when attacking the tumor, a purgationtonifying approach can be taken at the same time, Chinese herbs can be applied to improve the overall condition and prolong the survival time…”