1. New Advances in Tumor Treatment
2. Research on Regeneration and Restoration of Spinal Cord Injury

1. A REVIEW OF NEW ADVANCES IN TUMOR TREATMENT THROUGH TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE (TCM) AND WESTERN MEDICINE

Zhao Cheng, Ph.D., CMD.
Canadian TCM Anti-cancer Centre,
302 Spadina Ave., Suit 206,
Toronto, Ontario M5T 2E7

The major methods used in modern Western medicine to treat cancers are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. In recent years biological therapy, thermal therapy, angiogenesis inhibitor treatment and other new ways have also been developed to treat cancer.

Surgery in the Treatment of Cancer
Surgery is still an effective method in cancer treatment today. It is very important in the treatment of early stage cancer.

Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Cancer
Radiotherapy is the treatment of cancer and other diseases with ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation deposits energy that injures or destroys cells in the area being treated (the "target tissue") by damaging their genetic material, making it impossible for these cells to continue to grow. Although radiation damages both cancer cells and normal cells, the latter are able to repair themselves and function properly.

Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Cancer
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with drugs that can destroy cancer cells. These drugs often are called "anticancer" drugs. Normal cells grow and die in a controlled way. When cancer occurs, cells in the body that are not normal keep dividing and forming more cells without control. Anticancer drugs destroy cancer cells by stopping them from growing or multiplying. Healthy cells can also be harmed, especially those that divide quickly. Fortunately these cells usually repair themselves after chemotherapy. Harm to healthy cells can cause side effects.

Because some drugs work better together than alone, often two or more drugs are given at the same time. This is called combination chemotherapy. Chemotherapy may be the only treatment a patient receives. More often, however, chemotherapy is used in addition to surgery, radiation therapy, and/or biological therapy.

Chemotherapy can be used for different goals, e.g. to cure the cancer, to control the cancer's growth, and to relieve symptoms that the cancer may cause. Cancer is considered cured when the patient remains free of evidence of cancer cells for an extended period of time. Control of the cancer is done by keeping the cancer from spreading, and slowing the cancer's growth can be achieved by killing cancer cells that may have spread to other parts of the body from the original tumor. Finally, reduction of tumor load can alleviate symptoms such as pain which can significantly improve the patient's quality of life.