| Objective:The study was carried out based on the background of tropical humid climate conditions, urbanized living environment and the unique craving of certain food and beverages in Singapore. It used Chinese Medicine (CM) pattern identification and therapeutic methods to identify the best approach so as to guide the treatment of colorectal cancer patients in this region.Method:The study involved analyzing 300 colorectal cancer cases selected from the patient record database of the Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution over the past 10 years. The identification of the best approach to guide the treatment of colorectal cancer cases in this region was done in accordance with the relevant Guidelines and Standards used in the People's Republic of China (PRC). The study included analyzing the data using CM theory, so as to find the pattern identification distribution of colorectal cancer in Singapore, the therapeutic approaches adopted and specific medications used in the local context. The study further conducted a post-treatment survey to evaluate the efficacy of CM treatment. The study also listed the various herbs which were commonly used for treatment and their efficacies in treating colorectal cancer based on the modern medicine approach.Results:â‘ The Singapore colorectal cancer patient data indicated that the age groups were generally younger, the male-to-female ratio was more evenly distributed, and the colon-to-rectum ratio was also higher, when compared against those in 10 large cities and counties of PRC. When diagnosed clinically, about half of the local colorectal cancer patients were found to be in the severe condition of clinical stage IV category, which was on the high side. This resulted in 60% of the patients having cancerous cells being spread to other organs, most commonly to the lymphatic nodes, liver and lung, which made treatment processes more complicated and difficult.â‘¡The therapeutic approaches adopted by patients were mostly modern medicine treatment first, then followed by CM treatment. Thus, more than 90% of the patients had received surgical operation prior to seeking CM treatment, with many following up with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. This had led to more than 60% of the cases be classified as Xu Zheng (deficiency pattern),30% as Xu Shi Cuo Za Zheng (deficiency-excess intermingled pattern) and less than 5% as Shi Zheng (excess pattern). Such pattern identification distribution was very much linked to the patient's age, the clinical stage at the point of diagnosis and modern medicine treatment processes carried out prior to CM treatment.â‘¢The CM treatment served as a complementary treatment which apparently formed part of the integrated treatment approach adopted by colorectal cancer patients in Singapore. Hence, the herbs used in CM medication indicated that 60% was for enhancing the immunity and physical performance of the patients, with the remaining 40% for managing the cancerous condition. The post-treatment survey results of 160 cases indicated that suitable CM treatment was able to enhance the physical performance significantly; it also extended the lifespan marginally.Conclusion:Colorectal cancer has become the most commonly found cancer in Singapore; there is also a trend that patients are becoming younger, and many are in the severe stage at the point of clinical diagnosis. The study concluded that patients receiving CM treatment in addition to modern medicine treatment achieved enhancement in quality of life in terms of physical fitness as well as lifespan. The CM treatment with its unique approach of diagnosing the overall health conditions of the patient with focus on specific sickness, could be better tailored to suit the patient's needs; this is possible because of the flexibility of prescribing a variety of herbs available for treatment. Such treatment offers an alternative option for the patients. It is hoped that the findings could be of clinical reference value for local CM physicians as well as those practicing in the busy cities in South East Asia region.
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