Special Feature

2007 ◽  
Vol 11 (16) ◽  
pp. 1088-1117

Risk Management of Complementary Alternative Medicines in Cancer. Complementary Therapies for Cancer Patients. Chinese Medicine and Cancer Treatment in Hong Kong: A General Review. Ten (Good) Reasons to Drink Green Tea.

Author(s):  
Ping-Chung Leung ◽  
Vincent Ooi ◽  
Eliza L.-Y. Wong ◽  
Wai-Chun Au ◽  
Chun-Kwok Wong ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaiyin Chan ◽  
Louisa Lui ◽  
Kaling Yu ◽  
Kwongwai Lau ◽  
Manchi Lai ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer in Hong Kong. Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy is a major first-line conventional therapy for advanced and metastatic colorectal cancer. However, oxaliplatin causes chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Acupuncture has long been used to alleviate limb numbness in Chinese Medicine Practice. This pilot study aims to examine the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for alleviating CIPN in colorectal cancer patients in Hong Kong. Methods/Design: This is a pilot single-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled trial. Eighty-four eligible patients, who are Hong Kong Chinese aged ≥18 years diagnosed with colorectal cancer and undergoing oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, will be randomized in a ratio of 1:1 to electro-acupuncture group and sham-controlled group. During a 12-week treatment period, patients in electro-acupuncture group will undergo electro-acupuncture once a week from the first cycle of chemotherapy, patients in control group will receive sham-acupuncture, and the patients in both groups will be followed up for twelve weeks. The primary outcome measure is the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOC-Ntx) questionnaire. The secondary outcome measures include numerical rating scale (NRS) for numbness/pain, vibration and light touch sense test, quality of life questionnaire-C30 of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Constitution of Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CCMQ). Discussion: The study will compare electro-acupuncture with sham acupuncture to explore the feasibility for electro-acupuncture in improving symptoms caused by chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Pun ◽  
Wendy Wong

Abstract Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a growing phenomenon around the world. However, despite its historical role in Chinese society, there has been limited research exploring the nature of communication around cancer patients who receive TCM care in additional to conventional medicine. If TCM practitioners with adequate knowledge in understanding the needs and communication issues around patients with cancer, particularly those who simultaneously receive conventional medicine, it will lead to a better quality of care and result in better clinical outcomes such as high patient satisfaction and compliance with treatments.Objectives: To fill in this gap, this study aims to explore the nature of the communication amongst cancer patients in Hong Kong who receive TCM treatment in addition to conventional medicine.Participants: Twenty patients, 5 oncologists and 5 TCM practitioners were invited to conduct in-depth interviews to elicit their views towards their TCM treatment.Method: A qualitative approach called Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) is adopted.Results: Based on the themes that emerged from the interview transcripts, we outline the priorities of communication when dealing with cancer patients who receive both TCM and conventional medicine. A framework was developed to assist training TCM practitioners to better integrate their patients' conventional medical history when delivering patient care. Conclusions: The findings of this study can shed light to inform priorities in communication when caring for patients who opt for TCM care in addition to conventional treatments, and to provide useful information for developing future clinical research of providing integrated approach between TCM and conventional medicine in treating cancer patients.


Author(s):  
María Dolores Guerra-Martín ◽  
María Sandra Tejedor-Bueno ◽  
Matías Correa-Casado

According to the World Health Organization, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world. In Spain, about a quarter of a million cases were diagnosed in 2017, and 81% of the Spanish population has used, at least once, some kind of complementary therapy. Said therapies are increasingly being used by cancer patients. The purpose of the study is to analyse the effectiveness of complementary therapies among cancer patients. A systematic peer review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR guide in four databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus and WOS). The inclusion criteria were Randomised Clinical Trials, published between 2013 and 2018, with a value of 3 or more on the Jadad Scale. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42019127593). The study sample amounted to 1845 patients (64.55% women), the most common being breast cancer patients (794), followed by lung cancer patients (341). Fifteen complementary therapies were identified. We found two studies for each of the following: electroacupuncture, phytotherapy, hypnotherapy, guided imagery and progressive muscle relaxation. From the remaining ones, we identified a study on each therapy. The findings reveal some effective complementary therapies: auriculotherapy and acupuncture, laser moxibustion, hypnosis, Ayurveda, electroacupuncture, progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery, yoga, phytotherapy, music therapy and traditional Chinese medicine. On the other hand, electroacupuncture, laser moxibustion and traditional Chinese medicine presented adverse effects, and kinesiology did not show effectiveness.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaiyin Chan ◽  
Louisa Lui ◽  
Kaling Yu ◽  
Kwongwai Lau ◽  
Manchi Lai ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer in Hong Kong. Oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy is a major first-line conventional therapy for advanced and metastatic colorectal cancer. However, oxaliplatin causes chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Acupuncture has long been used to alleviate limb numbness in Chinese Medicine Practice. This study aims to examine the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for alleviating CIPN in colorectal cancer patients in Hong Kong. Methods/Design: This is a single-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled efficacy trial. Eighty-four eligible patients, who are Hong Kong Chinese aged ≥18 years diagnosed with colorectal cancer and undergoing oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, will be randomized in a ratio of 1:1 to the electro-acupuncture group and the sham-controlled group. During a 12-week treatment period, patients in the electro-acupuncture group will undergo electro-acupuncture once a week from the first cycle of chemotherapy, while patients in the control group will receive sham-acupuncture, and the patients in both groups will be followed up for twelve weeks. The primary outcome measure is the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOC-Ntx) questionnaire. The secondary outcome measures include numerical rating scale (NRS) for numbness/pain, vibration and light touch sense test, quality of life questionnaire-C30 of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Constitution of Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CCMQ). Discussion: The study will compare electro-acupuncture with sham acupuncture to explore the feasibility for electro-acupuncture in improving symptoms caused by chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 153473542094041
Author(s):  
Charlene H. L. Wong ◽  
Irene X. Y. Wu ◽  
Jon Adams ◽  
Amie Steel ◽  
Jon Wardle ◽  
...  

Objectives: Existing evidence supports the use of certain Chinese medicine (CM) interventions for symptom management among palliative cancer patients. However, evidence-based service recommendations tailored to the local context are needed for CM planning and implementation. In response, we aimed to establish consensus on CM clinical service recommendations for cancer palliative care among Hong Kong experts. Methods: Seven CM interventions showing statistically significant favorable results in existing systematic reviews (SRs) and overviews of SRs were subjected to a GRADE-ADOLOPMENT–based 2-round Delphi survey. Twelve Hong Kong experts in cancer palliative care, including conventionally trained physicians, CM practitioners, and nurses (n = 4 from each category), were invited to participate. Use of the Evidence to Decision framework within the GRADE-ADOLOPMENT approach enabled experts to consider aspects of problem priority, benefits, harms, equity, acceptability, and feasibility when making CM recommendations in cancer palliative care. Results: Three evidence-based CM interventions reached positive consensus as service recommendations, namely: (1) acupuncture for reducing fatigue among palliative cancer patients; (2) acupressure for reducing fatigue among palliative cancer patients; and (3) moxibustion for reducing nausea and vomiting among patients receiving chemotherapy. Median rating of recommendation ranged from 2.5 to 3.0 (interquartile range = 0.00-1.00) on a 4-point Likert-type scale, and the percentage agreement ranged from 83.4% to 91.7%. Conclusions: The GRADE-ADOLOPMENT approach facilitates a consensus-based process of reaching 3 evidence-based CM recommendations for cancer palliative care. Future studies may develop tailored strategies to implement these recommendations in the Hong Kong health system.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Pun ◽  
Wendy Wong

Abstract Background: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a growing phenomenon around the world. However, despite its historical role in Chinese society, there has been limited research exploring the nature of communication around cancer patients who receive TCM care in additional to conventional medicine. If TCM practitioners with adequate knowledge in understanding the needs and communication issues around patients with cancer, particularly those who simultaneously receive conventional medicine, it will lead to a better quality of care and result in better clinical outcomes such as high patient satisfaction and compliance with treatments. Objectives: To fill in this gap, this study aims to explore the nature of the communication amongst cancer patients in Hong Kong who receive TCM treatment in addition to conventional medicine. Methods: Twenty patients, 5 oncologists and 5 TCM practitioners were invited to conduct in-depth interviews to elicit their views towards their TCM treatment. A qualitative approach called Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) is adopted. Results: Based on the themes that emerged from the interview transcripts, we outline the priorities of communication when dealing with cancer patients who receive both TCM and conventional medicine. A framework was developed to assist training TCM practitioners to better integrate their patients' conventional medical history when delivering patient care. Conclusion: The findings of this study can shed light to inform priorities in communication when caring for patients who opt for TCM care in addition to conventional treatments, and to provide useful information for developing future clinical research of providing integrated approach between TCM and conventional medicine in treating cancer patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wai Ching Lam ◽  
Linda Zhong ◽  
Yuqi Liu ◽  
Nannan Shi ◽  
Bacon Ng ◽  
...  

It is common for patients with cancers in Hong Kong seeking Chinese Medicine (CM) therapies as supportive care during cancer treatment and to manage treatment-related side effects. This article provides clinical practice guideline (CPG) on the use of CM for specific clinical indications caused by cancer and during cancer treatment, including pain, constipation, and insomnia, and aims to guide local licensed CM practitioners and provide beneficial reference for social medical decision makers and patients. In this manuscript, we summarize the clinical manifestation, CM pattern classification, and CM intervention including herbal treatment, acupuncture treatment, regulating, and nursing based on pattern differentiation.


2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuen-chi Lam ◽  
Chung-wah Cheng ◽  
Heng Peng ◽  
Chun-key Law ◽  
Xianzhang Huang ◽  
...  

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