Editor's Note: The following is an adaptation of Dr. Lee Chen-Yu's paper (see bio at end of article) for an oncology presentation originally translated and presented by Dr. Wasserman.
Cancer stem cells may enter a state of quiescence called the G0 phase1 in which they temporarily or reversibly stop differentiating. Based on the underlying philosophical foundations of Chinese medicine, the G0 phase can be classified as existing in a state of chaos or wu ji ("ultimate of nothingness"),2 a state of undifferentiated absolute and infinite potential; oneness before duality.
It is the interval between the latent state of the G0 phase and the active state of the G1 phase in which duality of tai ji ("great ultimate")3 manifests, and the correlations with the six-channel pattern identification, channel passage, and transmutations explained in the Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases, and eight-principle pattern identification, can be clinically applied. The objective of treatment is to prevent the progression from G0 to G1 and subsequent onset of cell division (carcinogenesis).
During the initial stage of G0 to G1,4 this interval can be identified as tai yang exterior wind-heat pattern. As differentiation continues, neoplastic fever manifests with its symptoms of late-afternoon tidal heat (fever), night sweating and dry cough, which can be identified as shao yang half-exterior half-interior pattern. Further differentiation that manifests in the formation of a solid tumor can be identified as three yang channel concurrent disease with exterior-interior triple-burner repletion heat pattern.
In this stage, the rapid differentiation and proliferation with vascular growth factors that stimulate angiogenesis can be identified as blood heat pattern. The buildup of metabolic waste around the periphery of the tumor can be identified as damp-heat, phlegm-heat or cold-damp pattern. The capacity of cancer cells to fortify defenses and protect themselves against attack may result in drug resistance, which can be identified as stasis obstruction or cold-stasis pattern.
Chinese medicine offers an abundance of therapeutic methods and medicinal (herbal) formulas for the treatment of all types of cancer and their various stages of development.
Once Western medicine intervenes in the cancer treatment process, the Chinese medicine practitioner must first understand the actions (pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics) of these therapies and the types of side effects that may occur as a result of treatment. Then – based on the four examinations and pattern identification, which includes lab test results, signs and symptoms, and course of disease – the practitioner can determine the appropriate Chinese medicine formula.
These formulas must not be modeled after the over-the-counter anticancer herbal therapies sold on the market and touted as "miracle" elixirs, which typically contain large doses of anticancer herbs. This approach will inevitably end up damaging right qi and causing the cancer to proliferate even faster!
Another common misconception, on the other end of the spectrum, is that Chinese medicine herbal therapy is all about "supplementing" as a means of boosting the immune system. Cancer is a great heat pattern pathocondition, so you cannot just "supplement." If you do, the immune system will become overactive, exacerbate inflammation, and cause the malignancy to proliferate even faster!
The only times you need to add qi-, blood- and yang-supplementing medicinals to your base formula are 1) when the patient has been administered chemotherapy or radiotherapy, resulting in the suppression of hematopoiesis or atrophy of endocrine and exocrine glands; or 2) if tumor markers continue to rapidly increase following administration of chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and adding large doses of heat-clearing toxin-resolving medicinals into the base formula has not been effective.
Once the process of proliferation and carcinogenesis has been reversed, or apoptosis, necrosis, or calcification has occurred, tumor markers will drop back down to normal levels. At this time, the cancer stem cells have returned to the G0 phase and the condition will go into remission.
However, you still must continue to be vigilant and follow up. After a period of time, say three to five weeks or a couple of months later, tumor marker levels may once again gradually start to increase. It is at this pivotal moment when the cancer can be identified as having returned to the essential state (root)5 that existed prior to Chinese and Western medicine therapeutic intervention.
In the essential state, you must return to the therapeutic approach used in tai ji, when the cancer stem cells are at the onset or on the verge of differentiation, or have already differentiated.
References / Notes
Dr. Lee Chen-Yu has served as the director of Yu Sheng Chinese Medicine Clinic in Taiwan for over 40 years; and has been actively engaged in the clinical application, instruction and research of Chinese medicine. He is a visionary rooted in the classics and attuned to our modern environment. To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/groups/2982083568778240.
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