A Case Study of Korean Medicine in Treating Worsened Esophagitis Symptoms Following Anticancer Therapy in a Patient with Esophageal Cancer

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to report on a patient with esophageal cancer who showed improvement through treatment with Korean medicine for esophagitis symptoms that had intensified after anticancer therapy.Methods: A patient with esophageal cancer was treated with herbal medicine, acupuncture, and moxibustion. The patient’s subjective symptoms, such as dysphagia and heartburn, were assessed using the numerical rating scale, while constipation was evaluated by defecation frequency and using the Bristol stool scale. The cancer-specific quality of life was used to compare the patient’s quality of life before and after treatment.Results: After treatment, dysphagia, heartburn, and constipation were relieved, and the patient’s quality of life improved.Conclusion: This case study demonstrates the effectiveness of Korean medicine in treating an esophageal cancer patient whose esophagitis symptoms had worsened after anticancer therapy.