Against the backdrop of advancing efforts in building a Healthy China and promoting the inheritance and innovative development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), integrated TCM and Western medicine approaches to cancer prevention and treatment have become a vital pathway for improving diagnostic and therapeutic quality and enhancing patients' quality of life. As a National Clinical Key Specialty, National TCM Key Specialty, and National TCM Advantageous Specialty, the First Oncology Department of Yantai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine has dedicated over three decades to cancer care. Upholding the core principle of "strengthening the body's defenses while eliminating pathogenic factors," the department is committed to technological innovation, integration of TCM and Western medicine, scientific research translation, and regional leadership. It has established a comprehensive, integrated system for cancer prevention and treatment that spans the entire patient journey, fulfilling its national specialty mission to safeguard public health and well-being. 
"As a national key specialty, Department of Oncology I has always adhered to a patient-centered approach, upholding the integrity of traditional Chinese medicine while pioneering innovation in medical science. By deeply integrating the unique strengths of TCM with modern precision diagnostics and treatments, we are committed to providing cancer patients with safer, more effective, and more compassionate care, fully fulfilling our leadership role in regional integrative oncology prevention and treatment," said Mu Yuejun, Director of Department of Oncology I.

01.Upholding Tradition and Innovating Technology: Specialty Therapies Highlight the Strengths of Traditional Chinese Medicine

After years of accumulation and development, a number of traditional Chinese medicine tumor treatment techniques in the Oncology Department have maintained a leading position in Shandong Province. As the leading unit of the tumor specialty within the Qilu Traditional Chinese Medicine Advantage Specialty Cluster, the department has initiated the formulation of traditional Chinese medicine treatment plans and clinical pathways for six major advantageous diseases including lung cancer, gastric cancer, intestinal cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, and pancreatic cancer. These have been promoted and applied in 22 member units across the province, effectively promoting the standardization and homogenization of regional traditional Chinese medicine tumor treatment.

Under the leadership of Professor Hou Aihua, the head of the oncology department, an innovative two-therapy immunotherapy was independently developed. This therapy combines acupuncture at specific points with self-made type-specific acupoint patches, precisely treating problems such as low immunity and bone marrow suppression after chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. It significantly reduces adverse reactions during treatment and enhances the body's immune function. The clinical application results are outstanding, and it is highly recognized by patients. At the same time, more than ten core traditional Chinese medical techniques such as the six qi acupuncture method, the internal and external combined elimination method, and the two-therapy diuresis and tumor elimination method have been widely implemented. The unique external treatment techniques such as the nitro-huang powder for treating malignant pleural and abdominal effusions and the warming meridians and resolving stasis powder for alleviating cancer pain are non-invasive, highly effective, and have a rapid onset. These provide diversified and green treatment options for cancer patients, forming a core competitiveness of "better than others, more excellent than others" in the specialized field.

02.Collaboration between China and the West resolves difficulties, and comprehensive management safeguards the dignity of life.

The Oncology Department adheres to the development direction of integrating traditional Chinese and Western medicine. It integrates modern minimally invasive technologies such as microwave ablation and radioactive particle implantation with traditional Chinese medicine, innovatively applying the internal and external combined elimination method. By using minimally invasive precision tumor elimination through Western medicine and comprehensive treatment with internal and external therapies through traditional Chinese medicine, it effectively reduces postoperative inflammatory reactions and lowers the risk of recurrence. This approach has achieved a "1 + 1 > 2" therapeutic effect in the treatment of diseases such as lung cancer and liver cancer. 
For patients with complex and difficult tumors, the Oncology Department I has established a three-level diagnosis and treatment mechanism consisting of internal departmental discussions, hospital-wide multidisciplinary MDT consultations, and remote consultations with top domestic hospitals. It combines the efforts of multiple disciplines such as radiotherapy, imaging, and pathology, connects with top domestic cancer treatment centers, and tailors individualized treatment plans for critical and difficult cases, demonstrating the national-level specialized department's ability and responsibility to overcome challenges. "We once conducted multiple rounds of MDT and cross-provincial remote consultations for a 70-year-old patient with dual primary malignant tumors in the stomach and lungs, and developed a comprehensive treatment plan mainly based on traditional Chinese medicine. This not only controlled the progression of the tumors but also maximally ensured the patient's quality of life," said Director Mu.

Relying on the dual full-process management model of traditional Chinese and Western medicine, the Oncology Department provides comprehensive intervention for patients at all stages, including postoperative prevention of recurrence, peri-chemotherapy period, advanced palliative care, and rehabilitation follow-up. There was a patient with advanced lung cancer with multiple metastases. After the department provided full-process integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment and symptomatic therapy, not only was the tumor progression effectively controlled, but the patient was also able to live independently and carry out daily activities normally, achieving long-term survival with the tumor. Through humanistic medical care, the dignity of life was protected.

03.Research-based preparations double the effect. The alliance leads and jointly builds a high-level prevention and treatment platform.

Clinical practice serves as the foundation, while scientific research acts as the wings. The Oncology Department I has been deeply engaged in the transformation research of traditional Chinese medicine in anti-tumor treatment, and has developed the in-house preparation "Tanbei Jieku Capsule", which has been in use for decades and has proven effective. It is widely applied in the treatment of advanced lung cancer, lymph node metastatic cancer, and postoperative prevention of recurrence of lung cancer. The clinical application has been ongoing for nearly ten years and has achieved remarkable results, attracting patients from both within and outside the province to come for treatment. The project funded by the Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation based on this preparation has delved into exploring the mechanism of its regulation of the tumor immune microenvironment. The research results have reached the advanced level within the province. 
At present, the Oncology Department is undertaking over 10 provincial and ministerial-level as well as municipal-level scientific research projects. It has received numerous awards including the Shandong Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Progress Award. It has published over 30 academic papers and 5 SCI papers, obtained 2 invention patents, and many of its research achievements have been successfully transformed into clinical treatment plans, continuously enhancing the core competitiveness of the department. 
As the leading unit of the Shandong Province TCM Cancer Prevention and Treatment Specialized Alliance, the Oncology Department One has fully leveraged the national-level specialized radiation and leading role. Through academic exchanges, technology promotion, grassroots visits, and talent cultivation, it has contributed to the overall improvement of TCM cancer diagnosis and treatment levels in the province. 
In the future, the Oncology Department of Yantai Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital will continue to adhere to its status as a national-level key specialty, deepen the innovation of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine, strengthen technological research, scientific research transformation and regional leadership, continuously improve the tumor prevention and treatment system, and provide more precise, higher-quality and more compassionate medical services to protect the health of cancer patients, thereby contributing to the high-quality development of the national and even the national-level traditional Chinese medicine tumor prevention and treatment cause.