Another Path in Cancer Treatment — Traditional Chinese Medicine and Personalized Care
Traditional Chinese medicine, as a complementary treatment, helps Hong Kong cancer patients reduce side effects and improve their physical condition, complementing the concept of personalized medicine.
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Introduction: Cancer Is Not Just Medicine — It Is a Life Decision
In Hong Kong, more than 30,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year (Hong Kong Cancer Registry, 2022). For patients, cancer is not merely a diagnostic label from a doctor — it is a long-term challenge to the body, mind, and spirit. While surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy remain the mainstream medical approaches, more and more patients and families are asking:
“Apart from Western medicine — what else can I do to help myself?”
Against this backdrop, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has re-entered the conversation on cancer care. For many patients, TCM is not a replacement, but a complementary support — a way to reduce side effects, strengthen the body, and improve quality of life. More importantly, it aligns with the philosophy behind personalized (or precision) medicine:
treatment should adapt to the individual, not a one-size-fits-all protocol.
The Philosophy of TCM: Person-Centered, Constitution-Based Care
TCM emphasizes “syndrome differentiation and individualized treatment,” tailoring therapy to each patient’s constitution, symptoms, and overall condition. This coincides with modern medicine’s use of genetic markers and molecular profiling to personalize cancer treatment.
Key principles of TCM include:
| TCM Perspective | Concept |
|---|---|
| Qi & Blood / Yin & Yang | Cancer is linked to internal imbalance. |
| Individual Difference | Each patient’s constitution (qi deficiency, yin deficiency, phlegm-dampness, etc.) requires different treatment. |
| Therapeutic Goal | Not directly “killing the tumor,” but improving the internal environment and resilience. |
Qi & Blood / Yin & Yang
Cancer is linked to internal imbalance.
Individual Difference
Each patient’s constitution (qi deficiency, yin deficiency, phlegm-dampness, etc.) requires different treatment.
Therapeutic Goal
Not directly “killing the tumor,” but improving the internal environment and resilience.
Common TCM modalities include:
- Herbal medicine — strengthening digestion, replenishing qi and blood, clearing heat/toxins
- Acupuncture — relieving pain, nausea/vomiting, peripheral neuropathy
- Diet & lifestyle guidance — reinforcing constitution through food therapy and habits
Why Personalized Cancer Medicine Needs TCM
1. Western medicine targets the tumor — TCM supports the person
Western medicine focuses on destroying or shrinking tumor cells. TCM focuses on energy, strength, digestion, and overall vitality, helping patients tolerate and complete treatment.
2.Shared Language of Personalization
| Western Medicine | TCM |
|---|---|
| Uses gene testing to decide which drug fits which patient | Uses syndrome differentiation to tailor formulas based on body constitution |
| Different tools — same philosophy: “Treat the individual, not the average.” | |
Western Medicine
Uses gene testing to decide which drug fits which patient
TCM
Uses syndrome differentiation to tailor formulas based on body constitution
Different tools — same philosophy: “Treat the individual, not the average.”
3. Real-world Hong Kong patient behavior
Many Hong Kong patients already combine Western and Chinese medicine during treatment, especially after chemotherapy or radiotherapy. They seek a more holistic and supportive model of care (Wong et al., 2018).
Clinical Roles of TCM in Cancer Treatment
1. Reducing treatment side effects
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy often cause nausea, vomiting, oral ulcers, digestive upset, appetite loss, fatigue, and insomnia.
TCM interventions:
- Herbs — protect digestion, stimulate appetite
- Acupuncture — clinically proven to reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea/vomiting (Ezzo et al., 2006)
- Diet therapy — tailored food guidance to reduce digestive distress
2. Enhancing immunity and recovery
Cancer and treatment both weaken immunity.
TCM strategies:
- Tonify qi and blood to preserve stamina and reduce infection risk
- Strengthen the spleen/stomach for better nutrient absorption
- Emphasize rest, sleep, and emotional balance
3. Long-term or rehabilitation support
In survivorship or chronic disease management stages, TCM helps:
- Reduce fatigue
- Improve appetite and body weight
- Calm anxiety and stabilize mood
- Support physical and emotional recovery
Challenges and Risks — Limitations in Hong Kong
| Issue | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Limited high-level evidence | Many studies are small-scale or observational; RCTs still lacking (Chung et al., 2015) |
| Drug–herb interactions | Some herbs can alter drug metabolism, strain liver/kidney function, or reduce drug efficacy |
| Quality control | Source and purity of herbs not fully standardized |
| Communication gaps | Many patients do not tell their oncologist they are using TCM |
Limited high-level evidence
Many studies are small-scale or observational; RCTs still lacking (Chung et al., 2015)
Drug–herb interactions
Some herbs can alter drug metabolism, strain liver/kidney function, or reduce drug efficacy
Quality control
Source and purity of herbs not fully standardized
Communication gaps
Many patients do not tell their oncologist they are using TCM
The Hong Kong Context — How Collaboration Can Work
1. Public sector limitations
Public hospitals currently follow a Western-medicine-dominant model; TCM is seldom integrated into oncology workflows.
2. Private and NGO sector innovation
Some private clinics and NGOs have begun experimenting with co-management models, where oncologists and TCM practitioners coordinate treatment.
3. Patient expectations
Patients are not asking for “TCM vs Western medicine”, but “Can they work together safely?”
Hong Kong society culturally supports TCM — the barrier is systems-level integration.
Practical Guidance for Patients in Hong Kong
| Recommendation | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Inform your oncologist | Prevents hidden interactions |
| Choose licensed TCM doctors with oncology experience | Expertise matters |
| Ensure herbal quality and standardization | Safety and dosing reliability |
| Monitor labs (liver/kidney/blood counts) | Early detection of side effects |
| Set realistic expectations | TCM improves quality of life, not tumor eradication |
Inform your oncologist
Prevents hidden interactions
Choose licensed TCM doctors with oncology experience
Expertise matters
Ensure herbal quality and standardization
Safety and dosing reliability
Monitor labs (liver/kidney/blood counts)
Early detection of side effects
Set realistic expectations
TCM improves quality of life, not tumor eradication
Future Outlook: Integrative Personalized Oncology
TCM may contribute to precision oncology in the following ways:
- Combining liquid biopsy data with TCM syndrome differentiation
- More locally relevant clinical trials for Hong Kong cancer types
- Gradual inclusion of TCM in integrated oncology care pathways
- Better patient education: TCM as collaboration, not “miracle cure”
Conclusion: The Core of Personalization Is Choice
The essence of personalized oncology is “treatment tailored to the individual.” TCM’s strength — syndrome differentiation — aligns with this philosophy.
For Hong Kong cancer patients, TCM can provide:
- Relief from side effects
- Better quality of life
- Emotional and physical rehabilitation support
But it also comes with:
- Limited large-scale evidence
- Risk of drug–herb interaction
- Systemic integration challenges
Ultimately, informed choice + open medical communication is the foundation. Only then can TCM play its rightful role within personalized cancer medicine.
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References
- Chung, V. C. H., Wu, X., Hui, E. P., Ziea, E. T. C., Ng, B. F. L., Ho, R. S. T., Tsoi, K. K. F., Wong, S. Y. S., & Wu, J. C. Y. (2015). Effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine for cancer palliative care: overview of systematic reviews with meta-analyses. Scientific Reports, 5(18111).
- Ezzo, J., Richardson, M. A., Vickers, A., Allen, C., Dibble, S., Issell, B. F., Lao, L., Pearl, M., Ramirez, G., Roscoe, J. A., Shen, J., Shivnan, J. C., Streitberger, K., Treish, I., & Zhang, G. (2006). Acupuncture-point stimulation for chemotherapy-induced nausea or vomiting. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (2).
- Hong Kong Cancer Registry. (2022). Hong Kong Cancer Statistics 2020. Hospital Authority.
- Parkway Shenton. (2021, July 29). Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, is not meant to replace western cancer treatment. Health Plus. Retrieved from https://www.parkwayshenton.com.sg
- Wong, C. K. H., Lam, C. L. K., Wan, Y. F., Fong, D. Y. T., & Lam, W. W. T. (2018). Health-related quality of life in Chinese patients with cancer: Validation of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30. Supportive Care in Cancer, 26(8), 2611-2620.