Correct understanding of cancer As early as in the Yin and Zhou Dynasties more than 3,500 years ago, the ancients had an understanding of tumors, and the oracle bone inscriptions of that period have recorded the name of “tumor”, which is the earliest document of Chinese medicine recorded tumors that has been found today. The definition of tumor, according to the medical book “The Origin and Criteria of All Diseases” in 610 A.D., is considered to be the “retention of qi and blood” or the retention of certain abnormal substances produced by the human body, with the emphasis on the word “retention” which is not to be removed, and the character “留”, together with the character “病” (disease) as the radical of “tumor” (肿瘤). The character for tumor is “瘤”. The first record of the word “cancer” is found in “Wei Ji Bao Shu” by Dong Xuan Jushi of Song Dynasty: “The six external influences (wind, cold, summer, dampness, dryness, fire), the seven internal injuries (joy, anger, anxiety, thought, sorrow, fear, shock), diet and labor, etc., cause yin and yang imbalance, viscera imbalance, resulting in stagnation of qi, phlegm and blood stasis, which stagnate in the human body, forming accumulation, tumor, etc., and then the tumor is formed. In the human body, the formation of accumulation, tumor (stay), cancer (rock).” The first to give a concise description of the characteristics of cancer was the 1264 A.D. treatise Ren Zhai Zhi Zhi Zhi Yuan (仁齋直指附遗方論), which recognizes that “Cancer is high on the top and deep on the bottom, the shape of a rocky cavern, with a tired drooping, and poisonous roots hidden in the depths.” Cancer is an important disease that threatens human health. However, many people have wrong concepts about cancer, and it is widely believed that cancer is like a flash flood, and if no countermeasures are taken in time, the tumor will expand very quickly, and one life will be lost. Clinically, we always see that some people’s condition will deteriorate once they are diagnosed, or after symptoms appear. A large part of this is due to people’s psychological fear, coupled with excessive behavioral responses, which may accelerate death. Therefore, we need to have a correct understanding of cancer: firstly, cancer is something that no one can avoid, and everyone needs to take precautions and adopt comprehensive measures and make correct judgments. Secondly, we need to have a correct view on cancer: cancer is a chronic disease. In fact, the development of cancer is a slow process, and it takes at least 5 to 20 years for the first cancer cell to become cancerous, and some of them take at least 20 years. Sometimes the cancer cells will remain dormant for a long time or even not develop. From a practical point of view, the incidence of cancer will increase, and the probability of each person having cancer is still increasing, but more people survive cancer, it is a chronic disease, and the vast majority of people will not face death immediately if they have a calm mindset and correct countermeasures. Clinically, there are very few patients who die soon after getting cancer. Among those patients with rapid progression of disease, many of them do not die of cancer, but die of fear of death. Cancer patients can live a good life if they have a correct understanding of cancer, maintain a good mindset, and cooperate with proper treatment. The key to proper cancer treatment The treatment of cancer should be evaluated scientifically. The treatment should be based on the patient’s personal situation: is surgery needed? Can surgery be performed? Can the body tolerate it? The same applies to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. At the same time, cancer treatment should emphasize moderation, and all methods should be appropriate, not more is better. Including Chinese medicine, it is not necessary to use all kinds of medicines, or to use them in large doses or for a long period of time. As we know, there is a certain limit to one’s physical ability, and if this limit is exceeded, side effects will occur. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are added to the treatment of tumors, the result of which is that our organism is subjected to multi-directional blows, which may exceed the limit of the organism’s ability to withstand, and the result is inevitably contrary to the therapeutic goal, not only the cancer cells cannot be effectively controlled, but also lead to metastasis and recurrence of tumors within a short period of time. The effectiveness of any treatment is based on “moderation”. Only what is appropriate is correct and good. Clinically, doctors, patients and their families are prone to the mentality of “eliminating all evils” and “pursuing perfection”, and always hope that the scope of surgical resection will be wider, chemotherapy will be sufficient, and radiotherapy will be the best. Some patients and their family members think that more treatment means are better, thinking that only in this way can cancer cells be completely eliminated. In addition, patients and their family members are always afraid of recurrence, and if the course of chemotherapy is insufficient and radiotherapy is not done, once the tumor recurs, patients and their family members will feel very regretful. Under the domination of this kind of psychology, over-treatment will also be produced. The so-called over-treatment is unreasonable treatment beyond necessity. Because it is impossible to kill cancer cells absolutely. High-dose and prolonged chemotherapy will deal another blow to the already weak immune function of the body so that normal immune cells will not be able to control the residual cancer cells, leading to deterioration of the condition and a worse situation. Two years ago, Luo Mou, a popular and famous host of a central station, died of cancer. His death made many people lament. In fact, this host not only died of the disease itself, but also died of a wrong treatment idea: Luo Mou from the disease to death in a total of only nine months, and lymphoma is recognized worldwide as the best chemotherapy, chemotherapy five-year survival rate can be more than 90%. However, Luo Mou in nine months, nine consecutive chemotherapy, plus two stem cell transplantation, the body is almost no time to recuperate, even if the iron man, but also can not resist ah! Currently, there are quite a number of treatment methods for cancer, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and traditional Chinese medicine, etc. However, there should be a degree in the selection of treatment means, and this degree is to adopt the most necessary treatment plan for killing cancer cells in a targeted manner. In addition to prolonging the life of patients, the treatment of tumor should pay more attention to the quality of patients’ survival, which should be one of the purposes of our tumor treatment. New Concept of “Surviving with Tumor” Surviving with tumor means that under the premise of not being able to remove the tumor from the body, taking a step back and not seeking to eliminate the tumor, but rather improving the physique, inhibiting the development of the tumor appropriately, and maintaining the coexistence of human and disease. Survival with tumor is the new realm of cancer treatment, which indicates that people have made new and important progress in the understanding of cancer, as well as closer to the truth in treatment methods. The seemingly negative approach of “one step backward, one step forward” is actually a step backward that can lead to a more positive and optimistic outcome. Numerous clinical evidences have proved that the existing traditional treatment methods, such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and Chinese and Western medical treatments of “fighting poisons with poisons”, can no longer effectively reduce the pain and prolong the lives of patients with middle- and late-stage cancers; on the contrary, it destroys the immunity of patients and weakens their ability to resist diseases, thus accelerating the recurrence or metastasis, and not only does it fail to achieve the expected effect, but also makes patients suffer more. Not only the expected effect is not achieved, but also the patients suffer more. The treatment method of “survival with tumor” proposed now is undoubtedly the best choice under the current medical environment. Through the recovery of patients’ body functions, the immune protection function of the body is greater than the tumor proliferation ability, so that the cancer cells are in the state of dormancy for a long time, and the body will be in a clinically cured and healthy state. The body will be in a healthy state of clinical cure. Many clinical cases have proved that it is feasible for patients to “survive with tumor”, and it works. “Surviving with tumor” is the main way out for middle and late-stage cancer patients to seek for prolonging their survival. After treatment, as long as the condition of middle and late-stage cancer patients is stable, the tumor is under control, and the quality of life is improved, they should be given observation and the necessary TCM treatment of “fixing the root and supporting the right side”, instead of rushing to further kill the cancer, or to further cure the cancer, or to further improve the quality of life. Instead of rushing to further kill cancer cells and pursuing “getting rid of cancer to the end”. The systemic and holistic view of Chinese medicine in cancer treatment is an important magic weapon for “survival with tumor”. We should give full play to the advantages of Chinese medicine in cancer treatment, enhance the immunity of patients, adjust the internal environment of the patient’s body, effectively improve the quality of life and prolong the survival period. Of course, to establish the new concept of “survival with tumor”, it is necessary to abandon the old thought of “eliminating cancer”, to form a correct understanding of survival with tumor in the mind, and to let a good state of mind influence the immune function of the body. The better the state of mind, the stronger the immunity, the better the control of cancer cells, and the more stable the disease condition. Therefore, a good state of mind is of great significance to “surviving with tumor”. If you are psychologically prepared to live with cancer and dance with wolves in the long run, and face your condition frankly, you will definitely be able to get out of the shadow of cancer fear, and the effect of cancer treatment will also be better. Chinese medicine treatment of tumors Chinese medicine focuses on improving the clinical symptoms and quality of life of cancer patients, paying attention to the holistic concept, focusing on evidence-based treatment, supplemented by disease identification, and maintaining the balance between the body’s immune function and the confrontation between tumors, which is clinically effective and a reflection of the people-oriented approach. First of all, for cancer treatment, it is important to strengthen the spleen and stomach, and protect the digestive tract of the patient and the spleen and stomach of the patient. Because, it can be said that all tumors are chronic diseases, and the treatment often takes years, and it is not possible to be cured by taking medicine for a few days. Chronic diseases require long-term adjustment and long-term medication, so it is very important for the spleen and stomach to function properly. If the spleen and stomach are bad, it is difficult to continue the subsequent treatment. Normal transportation and digestion of the spleen and stomach, on the one hand, can ensure that the body needs nutrients, so that sufficient qi and blood, strengthen the body, so as to resist the disease; on the other hand, the normal function of the spleen and stomach, the drug can be absorbed by the body, the role of the human body, to help patients to fight the disease. Ancient people believe that “the spleen and stomach is the foundation of the latter day”, “as if the soldiers of the pay road also, pay road a cut, all the people scattered; stomach qi a defeat, a hundred drugs can not be applied”. Therefore, it is very important to protect the spleen and stomach in Chinese medicine treatment. Secondly, since cancer is an internal disorder of the body, a dysfunction of many internal functions, therefore, in treating cancer, Chinese medicine does not use Chinese herbs with anti-cancer effects without moving, but by grasping the patient’s body as a whole. As far as the anti-cancer effect of a single drug is concerned, the anti-cancer effect of any Chinese herbal medicine cannot compare with the effect of chemotherapy of western medicine. However, the advantage of Chinese medicine in treating cancer is the overall regulation, which is to improve the patient’s physical symptoms and enhance the body’s ability of resisting diseases and evils by suppressing tumors and at the same time, combining with the regulation of the whole-body functions by Chinese medicine, such as elimination of insomnia, alleviation of pain, and dietary adjustments, and so on. Tumor patients who are old and have many symptoms first need to adjust the whole body function. Because at this time, patients usually have symptoms in many aspects, as well as dysfunction of body functions, at this time, if they take the risk to fight, the patient’s physical condition will only become worse. However, through the overall conditioning of the patient’s body by Chinese medicine, various symptoms of the patient can be effectively improved. When the patient feels comfortable with himself, he will have confidence in the treatment of the disease, and the subsequent therapeutic effect will also be better. Therefore, when applying Chinese medicine to treat tumors, attention should be paid to the overall conditioning. Once again, the old Chinese ancestor has said, “When treating a disease with a big poison, ten goes to six”, that is, when treating a disease with a big poison, it can only be used to six points for fear of being poisonous, and treating the disease with a normal poison (non-toxic or small poison) is the best. Cancer is a chronic disease, and its treatment is a chronic, long-term process. After using poison for a long period of time, it not only damages the liver and kidney functions, but even leads to the second birth of cancer. Moreover, the use of poisons will lead to damage to the digestive tract, affect the function of the spleen and stomach, and affect the enthusiasm of patients to continue taking Chinese medicine. From the 1990s onwards, the mainstay of corrective medicine, the use of fewer poisons, and the Wangdao therapy (Wangdao, which is a mild countermeasure) have become one of the most feasible mainstream trends in the treatment of cancer with Chinese medicine. This treatment method belongs to the category of harmonious medicine, and comparative studies have shown that this method can not only complement Western medicine’s allopathic treatment (traditional treatment methods), but also has conclusive and proven efficacy. Therefore, we should rationally deal with the theory of “fighting poison with poison”, and oppose or refrain from using poisons easily. The treatment of cancer by Chinese medicine also includes external treatment, that is, the external washing and external application of Chinese medicine to make the medicine pass through the skin and act on the body to alleviate the patient’s condition and improve the patient’s symptoms. External treatment is also one of the characteristics of Chinese medicine in treating tumors, and many clinical cases have shown that this treatment method is also effective, and it has its role in improving the symptoms and quality of life of patients. Cancer is treated from heart Cancer is both a disease and a disease of the heart. In recent years, the research results on the relationship between psychological factors and cancer in modern society show that various psychological factors have a very important relationship in the process of occurrence, development and metastasis of cancer. Chinese medicine believes that “worrying and thinking about gas knot”, excessive melancholy, depression and other adverse psychological factors can lead to stagnation of qi, stagnation of qi is blood stasis, phlegm, fire, dampness and toxin condensation is an important reason for triggering tumors, and also an important reason for prompting the development of tumors. The treatment method of Chinese medicine, “dredging the liver and relieving depression”, is based on this theory. Of course, the patient’s psychological state is also a very important factor, and a good psychological state has an important significance in cancer treatment that cannot be replaced by scalpels and drugs. We don’t think that spirit is everything, but at least in the process of tumor prevention and rehabilitation, it is nothing without spirit. Without the support of spirit and perseverance, even the best medicine will not produce good results. The human body responds consciously or unconsciously to psychological cues, and many psychological effects can have a direct impact on the body’s tissues that we cannot feel. The mind can make us stronger or weaker, uplifted or lost. “When the heart is big, big things become small; when the heart is small, small things become big.” Maintaining a good state of mind is not only that one’s life will be happy, but also that the organism will respond to these positive psychological cues, and the ability to fight diseases will be enhanced, thus inhibiting the growth of cancer cells. Buddha said: if you want to live a casual life, you can only live ordinary; if you want to live a brilliant life, you can only live a painful life; if you want to live a long life, you can only live a simple life.” Cancer patients, to learn to put down their own baggage, let go of their own mood, which is conducive to physical and mental health. Cancer diet Many diseases are caused by patients’ own bad habits, and the occurrence of cancer has a very close relationship with diet, therefore, cancer patients should also pay attention to their own diet during treatment, and establish a scientific view of diet and nutrition, and we should know that “the best pharmacy is the kitchen”. Cancer patients, due to the dysregulation of the internal environment of the body, the choice of food should be based on light and calm food, avoiding raw, cold products and stimulating food, which will not only affect the digestive function of patients, but also hinder the absorption of Chinese medicine. Food processing methods for tumor patients should be mainly stewed, boiled and steamed, and at the same time, it is advisable to have a small amount of meals in order to increase the nutritional intake. Radiotherapy often treats “internal heat”, so patients can choose pear, winter melon, lotus root, turtle, duck, eel and other foods that nourish yin and clear fire, and do not eat or eat less hot foods, such as dog meat, mutton, pepper and so on. Patients often have nausea and vomiting and other adverse reactions during chemotherapy, so it is advisable to eat some light food, such as porridge, and avoid greasy and fatty food such as big fish, big meat, chicken and other difficult-to-digest food. Diet is a very important part in cancer treatment, and it is important to know that being able to eat is more important than taking medicine. Defeating Cancer The road to defeating cancer for mankind is a long one, but, after all, we have come such a long way. There is no doubt that the day is getting closer to finally subduing cancer. In the battle between mankind and cancer, every patient, family member, and every doctor is a warrior, and despite the fact that countless lives have fallen, mankind is still standing, and we continue to fight against cancer with our strong will, rationality, passion, wisdom, and even our lives. Thousands of years ago, Zhuangzi said, “Guard your body prudently, and things will grow strong on their own. Everyone must guard his body prudently, persevere and wait, for we firmly believe that mankind will defeat cancer.