Objectives: To demonstrate an improvement of neuropathic pain after surgical site infection in a patient with anorectal cancer by administration of Soshihotang (SSHT). Methods: A 65-year-old female patient diagnosed with anorectal cancer was administered SSHT to relieve her neuropathic pain induced by surgical site infection. SSHT was administered from 4/22 to 5/2. Clinical outcomes were assessed using a numeric rating scale (NRS), and opioids administered to relieve her pain was calculated. Results: During 10 days of treatment, the NRS scale of neuropathic pain was improved and the dosage of opioids administered reduced to less than half. Conclusions: This case suggests that SSHT could be effective for the management of neuropathic pain induced by surgical site infection.

Objectives: To report the improvement of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and pantalgia with integrative cancer treatment on adverse effects of chemotherapy in a breast cancer patient. Methods: A 63-year-old female patient who has been diagnosed with breast cancer got treated for 103 days with integrative cancer treatment including acupuncture, moxibustion, herbal medicine, physiotherapies, hand and foot bath to decrease side effects of chemotherapy. The patient was also treated Western immunotherapies like Thymosin, Viscum album. Paclitaxel, Carboplatin, Doxorubicin, Cyclophosphamide was applied and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy(CIPN), pantalgia and nausea occured. The efficacy of treatment was measured by a numeric rating scale(NRS) of symptoms, National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Event(NCI-CTCAE) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group(ECOG) Performance Status Scale. Results: The NRS scroes for CIPN, pantalgia, nausea were improved. There was no adverse effects of 3 or higher assessed by the NCI-CTCAE. The ECOG grade improved from grade 2 to 1. Conclusions: This study suggests that integrative cancer treatment could improve CIPN, pantalgia after chemotherapy in breast cancer.

Objectives: With antibiotic resistance one of the biggest threats to global health, we report a case of surgical site infection (SSI) after breast cancer surgery that improved only with the treatment of Taglisodog-eum (托裏消毒飮), Korean herbal medicine, without the use of antibiotics. Methods: The patient diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ of left breast underwent nipple areola skin sparing mastectomy and reconstruction using deep inferior epigastric perforator flap. About a month later, superficial SSI occurred at the incision site of breast cancer surgery with general weakness, and Taglisodog-eum treatment was started. To evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment, we compared the infection site conditions before and after treatment. Results: About three weeks after taking Taglisodog-eum, the SSI improved along with the improvement of general weakness. Conclusions: This study shows that Taglisodog-eum may be effective for SSI after breast cancer surgery, and the potential for alternatives to reduce antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance.

목적: 항암유발말초신경병증은 암 환자가 겪는 흔한 항암 부작용이나 현재까지 효과적으로 알려진 치료법은 없다. 본 연구의 목적은 항암유발말초신경병증에 대한 침 치료와 가바펜틴의 병용 요법의 효과와 안전성을 평가하는 것이다. 방법: 항암유발말초신경병증을 겪고 있는 24명의 암 환자를 침 치료 단독군 (AG, acupuncture group)과 침과 가바펜틴의 병용요법군 (CG, combined acupuncture and gabapentin group)으로 무작위 배정하였다. 두 그룹 모두 침 치료는 주 3회, 4주간 수행하였다. 병용 요법군은 침 치료와 더불어 1일 900mg의 가바펜틴을 복용하도록 하였다. 치료 효과는 Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI), visual analogue scale (VAS), European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy 20 items (EORTC-CIPN20)를 이용하여 측정하였다. 치료로 인한 부작용은 대상자가 방문할 때마다 조사하였다. 결과: 총 23명의 대상자(AG, n=12; CG, n=11)의 평가지표를 분석한 결과, 치료 4 주 후 침 치료 단독군은 NPSI 점수가 44.33±25.04에서 30.58±21.55으로 감소하였고, 병용 요법군은 30.55±25.59에서 18.64±19.42로 감소하였으며, 두 군 모두 통계적으로 유의미하게 감소하였다(p<0.001). VAS점수는 침 치료 단독군에서는 4.79±2.17 에서 3.42±2.49으로 감소하였고, 병용 요법군에서는 3.55±2.07에서 2.73±2.49 로 감소하였다(p<0.05). 치료 효과는 치료 완료 2주후까지 지속되었으며, 두 군간의 유의미한 차이는 없었다. EORTC-CIPN20은 침 치료 단독군은 30.27±18.87에서 20.84±16.35으로 감소하여(p<0.01), 두 군 모두에서 삶의 질이 향상되었다. 결론: 본 연구로 침 치료와 가바펜틴의 병용 요법이 항암유발말초신경병증 환자의 증상 및 삶의 질 개선에 효과적이며 안전한 치료법임을 확인하였다. 그러나 침 치료와 가바펜틴의 시너지 효과에 대해서는 확인 할 수 없었으며, 이를 확인하기 위해 추가적인 연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

Objectives: To report the reduction of adverse effects of chemotherapy and improvement in the quality of life in recurrent liver metastasis by Korean medicine treatments. Methods: In 2018, a 75-year-old male patient underwent surgery for primary cancer in the ampulla of Vater. In 2021, he was diagnosed with recurrent liver metastasis. Following the failure of tumor treatment with gemcitabine/cisplatin and the development of severe side effects, he decided to discontinue chemotherapy. Subsequently, with a significantly enlarged liver tumor, he resumed capecitabine/oxaliplatin treatment, alongside moxibustion, acupuncture, and herbal prescriptions from August 2021 to August 2023. The changes of chief complaints, abdominal CT, and laboratory findings were investigated. Results: After combined treatment of Korean traditional medicine and chemotherapy, the mass was decreased. Laboratory findings, and chief complaints of hand-foot syndrome, fatigue, abdominal distension, nausea and anorexia were improved. Conclustions: This case study suggests that Korean traditional medicine is effective in enhancing anticancer effects, suppressing the side effects of chemotherapy, and improving general conditions.