14/12/2024 07:00 (GMT+07:00)
Phu Tho Hospital recently received a patient suffering from exhaustion, necrosis, ulceration, and bleeding after using herbal medicine to treat breast cancer.
Diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, the 58-year-old woman refused treatment at the hospital and used medicinal herbs instead. As a result, her conditions have become worse with the tumor growing and ulcerating.
Doctors say breast cancer has a high success rate if the disease can be discovered and treated promptly. But in this case, the female patient missed her chance for treatment, and underlying conditions worsened. The only thing doctors can do now is provide palliative care.
She is not the only cancer patient with declining health by relying on herbal remedies without guidance from a doctor or specialist.
The Poison Control Center at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi once had a case involving the use of traditional medicine for treatment. N.T.M, 44, was hospitalized with acute liver failure and breast cancer. Two months before, she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and goiter.
The patient bought a medicinal herb which she described as having yellow color and drank the powder every dat. This led to jaundice and fatigue, poor appetite, nausea, and dry heaving.
Tests found that M’s liver enzymes were high, and her condition worsened upon hospital admission, requiring intubation. Despite treatment, her conditions didn’t improve. M passed away shortly after leaving the hospital.
In another case, patients suffered immediate complications right after using hebrs recommended by others. In November 2024, Cam Khe District Medical Center in Phu Tho received a female patient who drank wild taro juice to treat thyroid cancer. The patient experienced breathing difficulties and swelling in her mouth and throat.
Dr Ha Huy Men from Cam Khe District Medical Center said wild taro contains irritants causing skin burns and swelling, especially around the tongue, mouth, and lips. The timely intervention allowed the patient to recover within three days.
Despite repeated warnings about the dangers of invalidated, traditional treatment methods for cancer, many people still trust in their effects. Misplaced trust exacerbates the patient’s condition, and opportunities to improve their condition are lost.
Nguyen Trung Kien from Phu Tho General Hospital said some patients feel better after using traditional herbal medicine because of psychological effects. Some contain anti-inflammatory, analgesic, immune-boosting, and restorative properties. Therefore, patients might mistakenly believe their health has improved because of the herbs.
Vo Thu
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