A Case Report of Hypopharyngeal Cancer Improved with Chemotherapy and Korean Medicine Therapy

Abstract

This study examined the clinical effects of Korean medicine therapy in a patient with hypopharyngeal cancer treated with chemotherapy. A 53-year-old male patient suffering from hypopharyngeal cancer was treated with docetaxel as well as acupuncture and herbal medicine. Tumor size was measured by computed tomography (CT) and adverse events were evaluated according to the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) version 5.0. After two months of combined treatment, the size of the tumor mass was reduced at the left side of the neck, posterior to the CCA and at the lymph node in the left retropharyngeal area and medial aspect of the carotid sheath. The adverse events of chemotherapy also improved. This study indicates that Korean medicine therapy, such as acupuncture and herbal medicine, may lessen the side effects of chemotherapy and may be effective in the treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer.