抗癌之战：西医的利剑与中医的盾牌

癌症，这个令人闻之色变的疾病，已经成为威胁人类健康的主要杀手。在与癌症抗争的战场上，西医与中医各有所长，犹如一把锋利的剑和一面坚固的盾。西医的利剑直指病灶，精准打击；中医的盾牌固本培元，守护生机。两者相辅相成，共同构筑起抗癌的坚固防线。

一、西医抗癌：精准打击的利剑

现代医学在癌症治疗领域取得了突破性进展。手术切除、放射治疗、化学治疗等西医手段，犹如精准的外科手术刀，直接作用于癌细胞。以靶向治疗为例，这种治疗方法能够精准识别癌细胞表面的特定分子，进行针对性打击，显著提高了治疗效果。免疫治疗更是开启了癌症治疗的新纪元，通过激活人体自身免疫系统来对抗癌细胞，为许多晚期癌症患者带来了新的希望。

年轻患者往往身体状况较好，能够承受较强的治疗强度。对于这类患者，西医的积极治疗策略能够取得显著效果。以乳腺癌为例，早期发现并接受规范治疗的年轻患者，五年生存率可达90%以上。这种积极的治疗策略，为年轻患者赢得了宝贵的生存时间。

西医治疗也存在局限性。放化疗在杀灭癌细胞的同时，也会损伤正常细胞，导致免疫力下降等副作用。靶向治疗虽然精准，但容易出现耐药性。这些局限性提示我们，单一依靠西医治疗并非最佳选择。

二、中医抗癌：固本培元的盾牌

中医抗癌注重整体调理，强调扶正固本。通过调节人体阴阳平衡，增强机体抗病能力，达到"正气存内，邪不可干"的效果。中药复方具有多靶点、多途径的作用特点，能够改善患者症状，提高生活质量。

对于年老体弱的患者，中医治疗显示出独特优势。这类患者往往难以承受强烈的西医治疗，而中医的温和调理能够帮助患者带瘤生存，延长生存期。临床研究表明，中医药治疗能够显著改善晚期癌症患者的生存质量，减轻疼痛等症状。

中医在癌症预防和康复阶段也发挥着重要作用。通过调理体质，增强免疫力，降低癌症复发风险。在康复期，中医药能够帮助患者恢复元气，提高生活质量。

三、中西医结合：抗癌的最佳策略

中西医结合治疗癌症，不是简单的叠加，而是优势互补。西医的精准打击与中医的整体调理相结合，能够取得更好的治疗效果。例如，在西医治疗期间配合中医药调理，可以减轻副作用，提高治疗耐受性。

个体化治疗是中西医结合的精髓。根据患者的年龄、体质、病情等因素，制定个性化的治疗方案。年轻患者可以西医治疗为主，中医调理为辅；年老体弱患者则以中医扶正为主，适度配合西医治疗。

中西医结合治疗已经取得显著成果。以肝癌为例，中西医结合治疗组的五年生存率明显高于单纯西医治疗组。这种治疗模式正在被越来越多的医疗机构采用，为癌症患者带来新的希望。

上述正印证一句顺口溜：西医善攻伐，年轻命硬早施策；中医善扶正，年老体衰带瘤存。总之西医的利剑与中医的盾牌，都是我们战胜癌症的重要武器。只有摒弃门户之见，充分发挥中西医各自优势，才能为患者提供最佳治疗方案。

抗癌之战是一场持久战，需要智慧和勇气的结合。让我们携手并进，用智慧和勇气战胜癌症，为生命赢得更多可能。在这场没有硝烟的战争中，每一个生命都值得全力以赴，每一次治疗都应该精益求精。中西医结合，不仅是一种治疗策略，更是对生命的尊重和敬畏。

作者简介：梁世杰 中医高年资主治医师，本科学历，从事中医临床工作24年，积累了较丰富的临床经验。师从首都医科大学附属北京中医院肝病科主任医师、著名老中医陈勇，侍诊多载，深得器重，尽得真传！擅用“商汤经方分类疗法”、专病专方结合“焦树德学术思想”“关幼波十纲辨证”学术思想治疗疑难杂症为特色。现任北京树德堂中医研究院研究员，北京中医药薪火传承新3+3工程—焦树德门人（陈勇）传承工作站研究员，国际易联易学与养生专委会常务理事，中国中医药研究促进会焦树德学术传承专业委员会委员，中国药文化研究会中医药慢病防治分会首批癌症领域入库专家。荣获2020年中国中医药研究促进会仲景医学分会举办的第八届医圣仲景南阳论坛“经方名医”荣誉称号。2023年首届京津冀“扁鹊杯”燕赵医学研究主题征文优秀奖获得者。事迹入选《当代科学家》杂志、《中华英才》杂志。

The War on Cancer: The Swords of Western Medicine and the Shield of Chinese Medicine

Cancer, a deadly disease, has become a major killer of human health. In the battle against cancer, Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine have each advantages, like a sharp sword and a strong shield. The sword of Western medicine goes directly to the lesion and strikes accurately. The shield of traditional Chinese medicine strengthens the essence and strengthens the well-being and protects the vitality. Both complement each other and together create a strong line of defense against cancer.

1 Western medicine against cancer: the sword of precision strike

Modern medicine has made breakthroughs in cancer treatment. Western medical treatments such as surgical resection, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy act like precise surgical knives that directly affect the cancer cells. Take targeted therapy as an example, which can accurately identify specific molecules on the surface of cancer cells to target and significantly improve the therapeutic effect. Immunotherapy has opened a new era of cancer treatment by activating the body's own immune system against cancer cells, bringing new hope to many patients with advanced cancer.

Younger patients tend to be in better physical condition and can withstand a higher intensity of treatment. For such patients, the active treatment strategy of Western medicine can achieve significant results. Take breast carcinoma as an example, the survival rate of young patients who are detected early and receive standard treatment can reach more than 90%. This aggressive treatment strategy has earned young patients valuable survival time.

Western medical treatments also have limitations. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy in killing cancer cells, but also damage normal cells, resulting in immune decline and other side effects. Targeted treatments, while accurate, are prone to drug resistance. These limitations remind us that relying solely on Western medicine is not the best option.

2 Traditional Chinese Medicine to Fight Cancer: The Shield of Firmin Peony

TCM anti-cancer focus on the overall conditioning, emphasizing strengthening and consolidating body resistance. By regulating the yin and yang balance of the human body, it enhances the body's ability to fight disease and achieves the effect of "positive qi is in the body, evil cannot be acted upon." The combination of Chinese medicine has the characteristics of multi-target and multi-path actions, which can improve the symptoms of patients and improve the quality of life.

For elderly and frail patients, traditional Chinese medicine shows unique advantages. Such patients often have difficulty with strong Western medical treatment, and the gentle conditioning of traditional Chinese medicine can help patients with tumors survive and extend their survival. Clinical studies have shown that Chinese medicine treatment can significantly improve the quality of life of patients with advanced cancer and reduce symptoms such as pain.

TCM also plays an important role in cancer prevention and rehabilitation. By conditioning the body, strengthening the immune system and reducing the risk of cancer recurrence. During the recovery period, traditional Chinese medicine can help patients regain their strength and improve their quality of life.

3 - Combination of Chinese and Western medicine: the best strategy to fight cancer

The combination of Chinese and Western medicine to treat cancer is not a simple superposition, but rather complementarity. The precise attack of Western medicine combined with the holistic conditioning of traditional Chinese medicine can achieve better treatment results. For example, during the treatment of Western medicine with Chinese medicine conditioning, can reduce side effects, improve treatment tolerance.

Individualized treatment is the essence of combining Chinese and Western medicine. A personalized treatment plan is developed based on factors such as the age, physical condition, and condition of the patient. Young patients can be treated mainly by Western medicine, supplemented by traditional Chinese medicine. Older and weaker patients rely mainly on traditional Chinese medicine for correcting themselves, which is in harmony with Western medicine.

Combined Chinese and Western medicine treatment has achieved remarkable results. In the case of liver cancer, the five-year survival rate of the combined Chinese and Western medicine treatment group was significantly higher than that of the Western medicine treatment alone. This treatment model is being adopted by a growing number of medical institutions, bringing new hope to cancer patients.

The battle against cancer is a long one that requires a combination of wisdom and courage. The sword of Western medicine and the shield of Chinese medicine are both important weapons in our fight against cancer. Only by abandoning the notion of a gateway and making full use of the respective advantages of Chinese and Western medicine can we provide the best treatment plan for patients. Let us join hands to defeat cancer with wisdom and courage and to win more possibilities for life. In this war without smoke, every life deserves to be given every effort, and every treatment should be refined. The combination of Chinese and Western medicine is not only a therapeutic strategy, but also a respect and awe for life.

Author Bio: Liang Shijie is a senior medical practitioner in traditional Chinese medicine with an undergraduate degree. He has been engaged in traditional medicine clinical work for 24 years and has accumulated a wealth of clinical experience. Following Chen Yong, chief physician of liver disease at Beijing Traditional Medicine Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University, and renowned old Chinese medicine, he has been treated for many years and received great attention. He specializes in the treatment of difficult diseases using "conversational traditional therapy" and special treatments combined with the academic ideas of Jiao Shude and Guan Yubo's ten-level diagnosis.He is currently a researcher at the Shude Tang TCM Research Institute in Beijing, a fellow at the new 3 + 3 project of traditional Chinese medicine flame inheritance in Beijing - a scholar at the inheritance workstation of Jiao Shude's protégés (Chen Yong),He is a standing committee member of the International Expert Committee on E-learning and Health Care, a member of the Jiao Shude Academic Heritage Special Committee of the Chinese Association for the Advancement of Chinese Medicine Research, and the first cancer specialist to be included in the chapter of the Chinese Pharmaceutical Culture Research Association. Won the 2020 China Association for the Promotion of Traditional Chinese Medicine Zhongjing Medical Branch held the eighth session of the Medical Saint Zhongjing Nanyang Forum "Classic Prescription Famous Doctor" honorary title. The winner of the first Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei "Pingui Cup" Yanzhao Medical Research Essay Award in 2023. His work was featured in the journal Current Scientist and the journal Chinese Talent.