June 27, 2014

June 27, 2014

1. vg: My father is 46 years old. He went to the Chengdu Military Region General Hospital for an examination, and the doctor said there’s a very high probability he has esophageal cancer, and it’s quite serious. What dietary precautions should I take, and are there any good traditional Chinese medicine therapies?

A: There are many herbal formulas available for treating esophageal cancer in TCM. If treatment is based on syndrome differentiation, the effect will be even better. For mid- or lower-segment esophageal cancer, surgical radical resection is recommended first, followed by appropriate chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Long-term use of traditional Chinese medicine can improve the patient’s quality of life.

2. After the Curtain Falls: Hello, Mr. Pei. I was diagnosed with multiple lipomas on the left side of my back, measuring approximately 28 mm × 8 mm, 14 mm × 6 mm, and 9 mm × 4 mm, respectively. The shapes are regular and the boundaries are clear. Is this condition serious? What factors usually cause it, and how should it be treated?

A: If it’s a simple lipoma, surgery can completely remove it. However, if multiple lipomas are accompanied by joint pain or other symptoms, it may be lipomatosis, which requires more than just surgery. It’s an autoimmune disease, so a full-body examination is necessary, and treatment should be carried out by a specialist.

3. Pengbo Scholarship – Wang Yuejun: I’ve suffered from suppurative osteomyelitis for many years. The wound is as big as a large apple, with bone and flesh separated. Due to the high cost, I can’t afford treatment. Could you please help me find any folk remedies or alternative medicines that might work?

A: For osteomyelitis, Western medicine typically uses debridement and surgical excision, but the results are often unsatisfactory. In comparison, traditional Chinese medicine tends to be more effective. I recommend consulting a TCM practitioner.

4. Liang Hong: I’d like to ask—does thyroid nodule enlargement always require surgery? I’ve had it for four years, but recent examination reports show calcification. Is this condition related to having a light menstrual flow?

A: Nodular goiter is a common and frequently occurring disease. If it’s not accompanied by pain, hyperthyroidism, or hypothyroidism, there’s no need to worry. And if there’s calcification, even less so. Many rural women develop this condition and can live for eight or nine decades without treatment.

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