By Gerard Yeo

I had pancreatic cancer six months ago and the tumour was removed. During the initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, a spot was detected on my liver but doctors were unsure what it was. I then underwent four months of adjuvant chemotherapy and a positron emission tomography (PET) scan showed a small lesion on the liver, which has grown slightly larger. I now have to undergo chemotherapy again with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin. Can TCM help me?

Gemcitabine and oxaliplatin are two drugs used during chemotherapy to treat pancreatic cancer. They prevent cancer cells from dividing and growing, and can cause the cancer cells to shrink and die.

However, this drug combination may cause the patient to suffer side-effects, such as an abnormal blood count, which may lead to conditions such as anaemia. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting and hair loss.

Neuropathic conditions, where nerve cells stop functioning properly, may also occur. Patients may get a tingling feeling in the hands and feet, and muscle cramps.

Chinese medicine, acupuncture, cupping therapy and moxibustion (heat therapy) can help alleviate symptoms such as abdominal pain and loss of appetite, improve your digestive system and complement the drugs used in chemotherapy for killing cancer cells. They can also reduce the side-effects of chemotherapy drugs and shorten recovery time.

Chinese medicine such as inula flower (xuanfuhua), heterophylly falsestarwort root (taizishen) and liquorice root (gancao) are prescribed to strengthen the digestive system, reduce abdominal pain, improve appetite and reduce vomiting and nausea.

To reduce hair loss, fleeceflower root (heshouwu), glossy privet fruit (nuzhenzi) and barbary wolfberry fruit (gouqizi) are used.

Atractylodes rhizome (cangzhu), common clubmoss herb (shenjincao) and beautiful sweetgum fruit (lulutong) help reduce damage to the nerve cells.

Abstain from alcohol and smoking, and avoid eating spicy and oily food. Take easily digestible food such as porridge, fish, vegetables and fruit. Hot ginger water can help in reducing nausea and vomiting. Sleep early to strengthen your immune system.

Information provided by Ms Lim Lay Beng, a TCM physician at YS Healthcare TCM Clinic in The Adelphi.

This article was first published in The Sunday Times.