Expert Insights on Treating Pediatric Leukemia
On May 10, 1977, a 13-year-old student from Changqing Village, Ling Shi, named Cheng Jizhu, was brought in by his father, gasping for breath. Two months prior, he suddenly experienced high fever and chills, with a temperature of 40°C, and severe nosebleeds that lasted for two days. His stools were tar-like. He was rushed to Shan Medical Third Hospital and admitted on April 5 (hospital number 77-723). After emergency treatment, he survived but was in extreme anemia, with a hemoglobin level of 4 grams. A blood transfusion of 1600 milliliters was ineffective. After two courses of chemotherapy using the COAP regimen, he was in a critical state. He was discharged on May 5 with a diagnosis of “hemoglobin 4 grams, white blood cell count 360,000, acute myeloid leukemia.” The patient had a pale yellow complexion, lips and fingers white as rice paper, was dizzy and unable to sit or stand, had a poor appetite, only consuming 50-100 grams daily, felt heat in the five hearts, had palpitations, and excessive sweating, with vacant eyes; his tongue was like a peeled pig’s kidney, smooth and dry without coating, and his pulse was floating and thin, with more than seven beats per breath. From the pulse and tongue diagnosis, it was evident that he was in a state of both Qi and Yin deficiency. However, his father was sorrowful and crying, which was very pitiable. Upon further examination of the patient’s Fu Yang, Tai Xi, and Tai Chong pulses, they were still stable, with no vomiting or diarrhea, and the patient could still eat. His stomach Qi had not yet failed, indicating a glimmer of hope.
Thus, I prescribed Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang and Sheng Mai San, with heavy use of Ren Shen and Qi, adding Shan Yao to strengthen Qi and stabilize the collapse: 30 grams of Sheng Qi, Dang Gui, Hong Ren Shen (stewed separately), Mai Dong (mixed with millet), Wu Wei Zi, San Xian Tan, and Zhi Cao each 10 grams, Shan Yao and Jiu Di each 30 grams, Sha Ren 10 grams, Yuan Rou, Nu Zhen Zi, and Han Lian Cao each 15 grams, Ejiao 18 grams (dissolved), 5 slices of fresh ginger, and 6 red dates, decocted strongly and taken in small amounts multiple times.
Second Diagnosis on May 28
The first dose was effective, and the above formula was taken continuously for 10 doses. After 3 doses, he could sit up, and after 5 doses, he could eat half a kilogram. His dizziness greatly reduced, and his spirit improved. By the 7th dose, he could get out of bed and walk. His tongue had a thin white coating, was moist, and his stomach Qi returned, which was a very good sign. After completing 10 doses, he could eat more than a kilogram daily. Unexpectedly, the day before yesterday, he suddenly experienced vomiting and diarrhea, felt weak as if broken, had abdominal movements below the navel, acid reflux and noise in the throat, and coldness in the lower limbs, with a floating pulse and a white greasy tongue. His father thought it was a cold, but how could he catch a cold without leaving the house? This must be due to the long illness harming the kidneys, with the Yuan Yang unstable, a precursor to collapse. I initially planned to add deer antler and blood meat to warm and nourish the kidneys, promoting blood production. However, the patient had already spent thousands of yuan on hospitalization, and they were in dire straits.
Thus, I replaced it with Shen Si Wei, which is a product that is mild in nature and taste, warming the Yang and benefiting the essence, to nourish the kidney and simultaneously tonify Qi and blood:30 grams of Sheng Qi, Dang Gui, Hong Ren Shen (stewed separately), Yuan Rou, Jiang Tan, San Xian Tan, and Zhi Cao each 10 grams, Bai Zhu, Shan Yao, and Gu Mai Ya each 30 grams, Ejiao (dissolved), Sheng Ban Xia, and Fu Ling each 12 grams, and 60 grams of Shen Si Wei, with 10 slices of fresh ginger and 6 dates.
Third Diagnosis on June 20
After 2 doses, the stomach cold retreated, diarrhea stopped, pulse stabilized, after 5 doses the navel moved subtly, Yuan Yang was stable, appetite increased, and he could play outdoors. After completing 10 doses, he reviewed his studies daily, ran, jumped, and watched plays, returning to normal. His eyes sparkled with life, appetite increased significantly, and the pulse was harmonious and relaxed, with hemoglobin rising to 7.5 grams and white blood cells dropping to 110,000. No changes were made to the formula, and I added 10 grams of Ren Shen and deer antler paste for another 10 doses.
Fourth Diagnosis on July 18
Hemoglobin rose to 9.5 grams, and white blood cells dropped to 57,000. I continued with the original formula for 7 doses.
Fifth Diagnosis on August 27
Hemoglobin reached 11 grams, white blood cells 27,000, steadily improving. Due to poverty, I stopped the Chinese medicine and prescribed 150 grams of single Ren Shen deer paste for half a month.
By September 22, hemoglobin was 12 grams, and white blood cells were 19,500, and I was extremely gratified. I advised the family to pay extra attention to care, be cautious with diet, and avoid wind and cold to prevent unforeseen circumstances. Unexpectedly, on September 29, at noon, his mother had a high fever and fainted. She bought a large watermelon, and the patient, while his father was out getting medicine, secretly ate more than half (about 5 kilograms). That night he had abdominal pain and diarrhea, and the next day he had watery diarrhea all day, slipping and unable to hold it, with rectal prolapse and refusal to eat, sweating profusely, palpitating, and unable to walk. Rushed to see him, his six pulses were scattered like threads, his face was ashen, and his limbs were cold. I urgently used a large dose of Ren Shen, Fu Long, Mu, and Shan Yao, but the treatment was ineffective. The stomach Qi had failed, and no medication could help; I was powerless, and he ultimately could not be saved. The child, disregarding dietary restrictions, only seeking to fill his stomach, unfortunately passed away, leaving one to lament.
Note: Pediatric leukemia is similar to “pediatric acute tuberculosis,” and since its main symptoms are high fever and severe bleeding, it can also be classified under blood disorders. In the early stages, the evil toxin is rampant, filling the three burners inside and outside, entering the blood and moving it, and the treatment can refer to the methods for warm diseases, using Xiangjiao Dihuang Decoction combined with Qingwen Baidu Decoction, heavily using raw gypsum 250-500 grams. If there is no rhinoceros horn, it can be replaced with Dan Pi, Zicao, or Cao Xiu, taking 3 large doses continuously for a day and night can block the disease progression. At this stage, the body’s righteous Qi is still strong; one must attack without hesitation. Killing a portion of the evil toxin protects a portion of the Yuan Qi, and attacking cancer is thus to support the righteous. If the constitution is weak, and the evil transforms into cold or deficiency, then the initial illness may show the righteous Qi first collapsing, Qi following blood loss, and being on the brink of death. Or after high fever and bleeding, further chemotherapy may devastate the Qi and blood. At this critical juncture of life and death, one must urgently stabilize the collapse. All medications for attacking cancer and detoxifying, and those that are harsh and cold, must not be touched. Supporting a portion of righteous Qi allows for the retreat of a portion of evil Qi, preserving a portion of stomach Qi, thus providing a glimmer of hope. The treatment in this case adhered to this principle. Therefore, when distinguishing between disease and syndrome leads to contradictions, one must unhesitatingly prioritize syndrome over disease. If one rigidly applies specialized treatments for specific diseases, it hastens death.
Integrating Chinese and Western medicine, there is no ready-made meal in Chinese medicine. If we abandon the “people-oriented, syndrome differentiation and treatment” principle, how can we have the characteristics and advantages of Chinese medicine? Observe the rescue process of this child, lasting 4 months, taking 40 doses of medicine without using a single anti-cancer drug, ultimately reducing white blood cells and restoring hemoglobin to normal. This shows that the “people-oriented” thought and the principle of protecting the spleen and kidney Yuan Qi hold a special position in cancer treatment. Due to limitations, I could not conduct systematic observational studies; thus, my views may be coincidental and one-sided.
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