In September 2021, 76-year-old Mr. Liu (a pseudonym) received the diagnosis that plunged his entire family into despair - small cell lung cancer, with multiple metastases. In medicine, small cell lung cancer is known as the "King of Cancers" due to its high malignancy, rapid progression, and extremely poor prognosis. Clinical data shows that the median survival period for patients with extensive-stage cancer after second-line treatment is only 4-5 months. Even with the latest immunotherapy combined, it can only extend to approximately 16 months. A single diagnosis was like a huge rock weighing down on this ordinary family.

In September 2021, when Mr. Liu was 76 years old and in the early stages of the diagnosis, he underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy at an outside hospital. His condition was temporarily controlled, but just six months later, the tumor returned. Another round of chemotherapy managed to control the condition for a while, but Mr. Liu suddenly developed shingles and the cancer treatment had to be interrupted. Hope rose again and again, but it fell again and again. Looking at the elderly man's increasingly haggard face and emaciated figure, the family's hearts were tightly knitted together, almost reaching the brink of despair. Just when conventional treatments had reached a dead end, they held onto their last shred of hope and came to Yantai Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of our hospital.

Change your thinking: From "blindly attacking the tumor" to "reshaping the soil"

The director of the Tumor IV Department, Dai Lingling, after a detailed assessment of Mr. Liu's condition, proposed a new treatment concept: One cannot blindly pursue "eliminating all tumors" in the treatment approach. Instead, the "soil" on which the "tumor seeds" rely must be rebuilt, and the patient's internal constitution must be fundamentally improved in order to achieve long-term disease control. The department team tailored a "combined traditional and modern medicine, with dynamic adjustment" individualized treatment plan for Mr. Liu, with the core goal no longer being the sole pursuit of tumor shrinkage, but rather extending survival time, improving quality of life, and achieving stable survival with the tumor.

Integration of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine: Western medicine precisely controls the site, while traditional Chinese medicine provides comprehensive support throughout the process.

During the treatment process, both traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine worked in tandem, complementing each other's strengths. At critical junctures of the treatment, Western medicine utilized its precision attack advantage to quickly control the progression of the tumor. Based on Mr. Liu's physical condition and the biological characteristics of the tumor, an individualized treatment plan was formulated to ensure efficacy while minimizing toxic side effects. For chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression and gastrointestinal reactions, timely symptomatic supportive treatment was provided. Through regular imaging examinations and tumor marker tests, the condition changes were dynamically monitored to provide scientific basis for treatment plan adjustments. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment was integrated throughout Mr. Liu's cancer treatment journey. It strengthened the body's defenses, stimulated the body's immunity through traditional Chinese medicine therapy, improved the constitution, and enhanced the body's own anti-cancer ability. It continuously suppressed residual cancer cells to prevent tumor progression. At the same time, traditional Chinese medical methods such as internal and external administration of Chinese medicine, acupoint application, and moxibustion were used to alleviate the side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, allowing the elderly to "eat well, sleep well, and move around", significantly improving their quality of life. The department adjusted the traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions in real time according to Mr. Liu's condition changes and treatment stages, maintaining the best treatment state at all times.

During the treatment process, traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine worked in tandem, complementing each other's strengths. At critical stages of the treatment, Western medicine utilized its precision to quickly control the progression of the tumor. Based on Mr. Liu's physical condition and the biological characteristics of the tumor, an individualized treatment plan was formulated to ensure efficacy while minimizing toxic side effects. For chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression and gastrointestinal reactions, timely symptomatic supportive treatment was provided. "Traditional Chinese medicine can harmonize the internal organs, regulate qi and blood, and restore a peaceful and warm internal environment, eliminating the fertile ground for tumor survival. It collaborates with Western medicine to precisely combat cancer, not only consolidating the therapeutic effect but also strengthening the body's defense against disease, effectively reducing the risk of recurrence." Director Dai Lingling said.

Surpassing Expectations: From "Only a Few Months Left" to "Living with the Tumor"

Since his condition stabilized in March 2023, Uncle Liu has been adhering to standardized integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment. Now, he has smoothly endured over three years, far exceeding the initial medical expectations. Today, Uncle Liu can go downstairs for a walk every morning, chat with his old neighbors, enjoy the sunshine in the afternoon and read newspapers. He can also help prepare meals for the family. He has lived a normal and happy life like any ordinary person. Through his personal experience, he tells us: Advanced cancer is not equivalent to a countdown of life. The scientific diagnosis and treatment combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine not only extends the length of life but also broadens the breadth of life. Surpassing Expectations: From "Only a Few Months Left" to "Living with the Tumor"

This hard-won stability is inseparable from the strong specialized strength of the Oncology Department of Yantai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. As a national clinical key specialty, a national traditional Chinese medicine advantageous specialty, and a national traditional Chinese medicine key specialty, it is also the provincial traditional Chinese medicine oncology diagnosis and treatment center and the leading unit of the Qilu Traditional Chinese Medicine Advantage Specialty Cluster's Oncology Department. The Oncology Department has always adhered to the concept of "strengthening the body's defenses and eliminating evil, green anti-cancer", deeply engaged in the field of combined traditional Chinese and Western medicine oncology diagnosis and treatment, and has formed a mature and complete diagnosis and treatment system, helping countless patients like Uncle Liu to overcome difficulties. For every patient and family struggling on the road of cancer treatment, Uncle Liu's story is like a warm light, illuminating the direction of their journey. Scientific diagnosis and treatment plans, combined with the thousand-year-old wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine, bring hope to those in desperate situations. Under the escort of the national key specialties of Yantai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine - the Oncology Department, more and more advanced-stage cancer patients are achieving long-term stable tumor-free survival and are writing their own life stories.