Chao-Yang Hsiao1 Chien-Jung Huang1 Yu-Chih Tai1,2*
1Department of Chinese Medicine, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical
Foundation, Taipei, Taiwan
2School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
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Colorectal cancer is the third lading cause of cancer death in Taiwan. There may be less obstructive symptoms in ascending colon tumors. Otherwise, ascending colon tumors usually produce ulcers that intermittently bleed, resulting occult blood loss. Other typical symptoms related to ascending colon tumors may be fatigue, palpitations, and angina. This case reports a 53 year old female with known history of menopause, uterine myoma and anemia, who came to clinic for fever and abdominal bloating sensation in July 2015. Iron deficiency anemia was diagnosed. Gastrointestinal origin blood loss was suspected. However, the patient was admitted to hospital in November 2015 due to progressive abdominal distension and persistent dizziness. After serial study, colorectal cancer, stage IV was diagnosed. Colorectal tumor resection and palliative chemotherapy, target therapy were arranged. Oral Iron supplement was prescribed. However, there was obvious GI upset after oral iron supplement so the patient stopped the treatment and seek for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapy in January 2016. The patient had obvious fatigue sensation, dizziness, and persistent anemia despite colorectal tumor resection. The diagnosis according to TCM theory were liver and kidney yin deficiency, liver yang excess, blood and qi deficiency, phlegmdampness and blood stagnation and fall.The treatment principle were harmonizing the liver and spleen, liver yin supplement, blood and qi supplement, fortifying the spleen and disinhibiting dampness, and dispelling stasis. After serial Chinese medicine usage, the patient had fatigue and anemia improved so that the patient could tolerated the following chemotherapy regimen. We hope the case could be used to illustrate the efficacy of TCM therapy for colorectal cancer related iron deficiency anemia.
Keywords:Colon cancer, Iron deficiency anemia, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
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