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Usage of Chinese Herbs in Cancer Patients in Southern China: A Survey

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Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To study the use of Chinese medicine (CM) in cancer patients in southern China.

Methods

A total of 1,950 cancer patients finished questionnaires in four provinces in southern China. The survey included socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of participants, dosage forms, efficacy, and side effects.

Results

The study results showed that cancer patients with higher education (>12 years) were more likely to accept the treatment of Chinese herbs. There were 54.61% (1,065 cases) of patients chose Chinese herbs for the initial treatment and 14.46% (282 cases) chose Chinese herbs as monotherapy. Most patients (54.51%, 1,063 cases) continuously used CM for more than 6 months, and a few of them (212 cases) used CM for up to 3 years. All kinds of dosage forms of CM had been used, including CM decoction, CM patent prescription and CM injection. Concerning the efficacy in the view of patients, 40.31% (786 cases) believed that it would be effective to take Chinese herbs before they starting the anti-cancer treatment, and the percentage increased to 81.08% after 1-month CM treatment. The effect of Chinese herbs was mainly demonstrated by symptom relief and improvement of quality of life, and 8.31% (162 cases) of patients experienced control of tumor growth and decreased tumor markers. Furthermore, only 14.31% (279 cases) participants reported that they experienced side effects during CM treatment.

Conclusion

This large scale investigation reflects the current situation of domestic CM usage objectively and comprehensively, which might provide new ways for cancer treatment.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the contributions of the other investigators in this trial.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610000, China

    Shao-quan Xiong, Pan-pan Lyu, Cui Wang, Jian-long Ke, Xi Zhu, Jin-yang Wang, Xian-ying Shen & Guang-ping Li

  2. Department of Oncology, Friendship Hospital of Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 610000, China

    Yu Chen

  3. Department of Oncology, Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Shaanxi Province, Shaanxi Province, Xi’an, 710000, China

    Li-juan Wang

  4. School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 610075, China

    Li-juan Wang

  5. State Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Drug Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China

    Wan Liao

  6. Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, China

    Li-zhu Lin

Authors
  1. Shao-quan Xiong
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  2. Yu Chen
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  3. Li-juan Wang
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  4. Pan-pan Lyu
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  5. Wan Liao
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  6. Cui Wang
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  7. Jian-long Ke
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  8. Xi Zhu
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  9. Jin-yang Wang
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  10. Xian-ying Shen
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  11. Guang-ping Li
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  12. Li-zhu Lin
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Contributions

Xiong SQ, Lin LZ, Chen Y and Wang LJ conceived and designed the study. Wang LJ, Lyu PP, Liao W, Wang C, KE JL, Zhu X, Wang JY, Shen XY and Li GP collected the data. Xiong SQ, Chen Y and Wang LJ processed the data. All authors have participated in the drafting, review, and approval of the report and the decision to submit for publication.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Li-zhu Lin.

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.81573968) and Sichuan Provincial Science and Technology Department Project (No.2017JY0327)

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Xiong, Sq., Chen, Y., Wang, Lj. et al. Usage of Chinese Herbs in Cancer Patients in Southern China: A Survey. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 27, 502–508 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-019-3184-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-019-3184-6

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