Chinese Medicine Helps Cancer Patients Relieve Ascites Discomfort
Update Date：2025/04/07，
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Dr. Sunny Jui-Shan Lin, Department of Chinese Medicine
Madam Yen, 85, Regains Her Graceful Figure
Madam Yan, an 85-year-old woman diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, had a 16 cm tumor and a right portal vein thrombosis. She suffered from severe ascites, pleural effusion, and leg edema, which caused her significant distress, including shortness of breath, rapid breathing, and abdominal distension. During hospitalization, she was given diuretics and albumin supplementation, but due to the rapid accumulation of ascitic and pleural fluid, she required repeated paracentesis to drain the fluid. Her poor appetite, coupled with muscle cramps caused by diuretics, led to severe physical weakness, rendering her bedridden and unable to walk.
By the end of August 2021, National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) informed the family that Madam Yen had only one month to live. Considering that her residence was closer to Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH), her family was advised to transfer her there for home hospice care.
After being evaluated by Dr. Ping-Ying Chang from the Hematology and Oncology Department at TSGH, Madam Yan was referred to the Chinese Medicine (CM) outpatient clinic. She began integrated treatment with both Western and Chinese medicine and started taking Chinese herbal medicine on September 24. Gradually, her leg edema, ascites, and pleural effusion subsided. As her appetite and physical strength improved, she was able to walk and move around with the assistance of her family and caregivers (Figure 1).
However, by early November, Madam Yan lost her appetite again, became weak, and spent most of her time asleep. On the morning of November 10, her daughter visited Dr. Chang’s clinic and reported these changes. That same evening, Madam Yan was admitted to the hospital for intravenous nutritional and fluid supplementation. On the night of November 12, she peacefully passed away in her sleep in the hospice ward.
On November 15, I received a message from Madam Yan’s daughter (Figure 2). As a physician, knowing that we were able to help Madam Yan pass away with dignity and grace — free from the repeated hospital visits for paracentesis during her final journey — brought me great comfort and fulfillment. It eased not only her suffering but also lessened the physical and emotional burden on her family.
Chinese Medicine Reduces Ascites by "Regulating the Distribution of Fluids and Blood Within the Body"
"Ascites" refers to abnormal fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity. As fluid retention increases, patients may notice tighter clothing, abdominal swelling, and weight gain. When the distension worsens, they may experience abdominal pain, shortness of breath due to pressure on the chest, reduced appetite and food intake due to gastric compression, as well as fatigue and decreased urine output.
Ascites can be categorized into two groups based on its relationship to cancer:
• Cancer-related ascites: Seen in patients with liver cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer, lymphoma, breast cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, ovarian cancer, or uterine cancer.
• Non-cancer-related ascites: Caused by chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, heart failure, or kidney failure.
For both categories of ascites, CM treatment focuses on strengthening the heart’s contractility through herbal prescriptions. This approach helps redirect the accumulated fluid in the abdominal cavity back into the bloodstream, allowing it to re-enter systemic circulation. As a result, the volume of ascitic fluid decreases, and urine production and excretion improve.
Additionally, since patients with ascites often experience gastrointestinal dysfunction, CM treatments also aim to improve digestion, intestinal motility, and nutrient absorption. This not only enhances appetite and alleviates constipation or diarrhea, but also improves physical strength and quality of life.
Figure 2: Message from Madan Yen’s daughter
Figure 1: Madan Yen’s leg edema and ascites gradually subsided, and she was able to walk with family assistance (photos provided by Madam Yen’s daughter)