Causes and Prevention of Cancer from a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Perspective
Source/Update: Professor Liu Yulong
Clinical Professor of TCM,
Clinical Department, School of Chinese Medicine,
Hong Kong Baptist University
資料整理：曲廖秀芳女士
廖莉莉女士
歐陽畹華女士
Introduction:
Cancer is currently the leading cause of death among all diseases in Hong Kong. However, the causes of many cancers are actually preventable. In this article, Professor Liu Yulong analyzes how cancer develops and how it can be prevented from a TCM perspective. In addition, he briefly introduces cancer prevention from a Western medicine perspective for comparison.
Part 1: TCM Perspective
Part 2: Western Medicine Perspective
Part 3: Comparison between TCM and Western Medicine
Part 4: Conclusion
Part 1 - From the Perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
(I) Internal Causes（內因）;
(II) External Causes（外因）; and
(III) Neither Internal nor External Causes（不內外因）
Below is a detailed breakdown of each category. Once we understand the causes, we can "prescribe targeted measures to prevent cancer".
| Explanation | Preventive Measures | |
| Internal Causes A. Constitutional Factor（體質原因） |
(1) Abnormal Innate Endowment——Individuals with a family history of cancer (e.g., breast cancer, ovarian cancer) have a higher risk of developing cancer. | Inborn conditions cannot be changed. However, at the very least, if you have family members with a history of a specific type of cancer, you should take precautions and undergo screenings as advised by your doctor. If you are unfortunately diagnosed with cancer, you can also receive early treatment.
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| (2) Insufficient Innate Endowment——For example, congenital genetic defects (e.g., intellectual disability) can increase the risk of tumors. | You should take precautions, undergo screenings as advised by your doctor, and if you are unfortunately diagnosed with cancer, you can receive early treatment. | |
| (3) Phlegm-Damp Constitution (i.e., obese constitution)——Increases the risk of certain cancers, such as breast cancer and pancreatic cancer. | Weight loss is necessary, which means having control over your diet, doing more exercise, and so on. | |
| B.Personality and Emotions | A person’s mental state can affect their cancer risk. Chronic emotional depression (anger, anxiety, overthinking, sorrow, fear) increases the risk of certain cancers, such as liver cancer, thyroid cancer, and breast cancer. |
You should consciously maintain a healthy mindset no matter what happens. Prevent extreme emotional ups and downs and keep an optimistic attitude. |
| External Causes A. Improper/Unclean Diet |
Unhealthy eating habits increase the risk of certain cancers: Improper Diet—— Partiality to food (excessive/insufficient intake, nutritional imbalance), preference for greasy/sweet foods and alcohol, excessive red meat consumption, insufficient dietary fiber (low fruit/vegetable intake) – may lead to cancers such as colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, and breast cancer. Unclean Diet——Preserved foods (containing carcinogenic nitrites), moldy foods (containing carcinogenic aflatoxins), smoked/roasted foods – may lead to cancers such as liver cancer, esophageal cancer, and gastric cancer. Poor environmental conditions (e.g., contaminated drinking water/food due to chemical plant pollution) also increase cancer risk. |
Maintain a balanced diet and avoid being partial to certain foods. Exercise restraint in your diet, such as eating less high-fat and pickled foods. Avoid drinking alcohol or drink as little as possible. Avoid eating unclean and moldy foods. |
| Six Excesses (Wind, Cold, Summer Heat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire)（六淫——風寒暑濕燥火） | The "Six Excesses" refer to environmental factors:- In modern terms, they represent abnormal environmental and climatic changes related to temperature and humidity: - Summer heat (Fire) or excessive sunbathing can cause skin cancer; - Damp-Heat: In South China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Fujian, Hong Kong, Macau), the damp-heat climate is conducive to the growth of the nasopharyngeal EB virus, leading to a higher incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer. |
To stay healthy, one needs to live in a comfortable environment, including appropriate temperature and humidity. Therefore, avoid going to extremely hot or cold places. If you have to go, try to shorten the stay and make adequate preparations (such as wearing enough clothes). The elderly need to pay special attention to this. Avoid excessive sun exposure to prevent skin cancer. |
| External Pathogenic Toxins | Similar to modern concepts of environmental pollution: -Smoking and secondhand smoke: increase the risk of cancers such as lung cancer, bladder cancer, oral cancer, and laryngeal cancer. -Indoor air pollution (poor ventilation): cooking fumes, decoration pollution (glue, paint, new chemical materials), radiation from stone materials (e.g., marble, granite) – increase the risk of cancers such as lung cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma. -Industrial pollution (e.g., coal mines): increases the risk of lung cancer. -heavy fog/haze (severe air pollution): increases the risk of lung cancer. |
Do not smoke. Try to avoid working in polluted environments. If you have no choice but to work in such environments, take appropriate preventive measures (such as maintaining good ventilation, wearing masks, etc.). At the same time, undergo appropriate screenings as advised by your doctor so that if you develop cancer, you can receive early treatment. |
| Neither Internal nor External | Causes mainly include "lifestyle diseases" or bad living habits: - fast-paced life - lack of exercise - staying up late/irregular work rest schedule - mental/work stress - overwork (mental exhaustion from stress, physical exhaustion) |
While we understand that there is bound to be pressure in life—whether from work or other aspects—we should do our best to strike a balance. Do not overwork your body; ensure you get enough sleep and rest time. Engage in sufficient physical activity. It is essential to maintain a healthy state in terms of your body, mind, and spirit. |
| Regular Cancer Screening | Middle-aged and older women: Focus on screening for breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, and colorectal cancer. Middle-aged and older men: Focus on screening for colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, and liver cancer. |
Early screening/early detection/ early treatment. |
From the above information, it is clear that many carcinogenic causes can be avoided. The key lies in whether we are willing to make changes, and if so, whether we have sufficient determination to do so and the perseverance to maintain healthy habits. Equally important is seeking medical attention immediately if any symptoms appear.
Part 2 - From the Perspective of Western Medicine
| Carcinogenic Causes | Prevention Methods | |
| 1. Smoking | Tobacco is the most carcinogenic substance for humans. | Do not smoke (including all types of e-cigarettes); if you do smoke, quit immediately. At the same time, avoid inhaling secondhand smoke. |
| 2. Alcohol Consumption | Alcohol is a Group 1 carcinogen, on par with tobacco, asbestos, and ionizing radiation. | Try to avoid drinking alcohol; if you do drink, keep it in small amounts. |
| 3. Lack of Exercise | Insufficient physical activity contributes to various types of cancer. | Maintain moderate physical activity (with at least 150 minutes of exercise per week). |
| 4. Unhealthy Diet | Inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables, excessive consumption of red meat and preserved foods, etc., lead to different cancers – most notably colorectal cancer. | Maintain healthy eating habits. It is best to consume 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Avoid high-calorie foods, especially red meat and processed meats. |
| 5. Overweight/Obesity | Obesity increases the risk of various cancers, such as oral cancer, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer. | Maintain a normal weight. Keep your Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18.5 and 22.9. For men, the waist circumference should be less than 35.5 inches (90 cm); for women, it should be less than 31.5 inches (80 cm). |
| 6. Infections | Different viruses increase the risk of specific cancers:- Hepatitis B and C virus infections lead to liver cancer. Most cases of cervical cancer, anal cancer, and external genital cancers are caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Helicobacter pylori infection significantly increases the risk of gastric cancer. | Avoid viral infections. If you are unfortunately infected, you must undergo testing and take appropriate measures as instructed by medical professionals. Examples include: getting the hepatitis B vaccine; receiving the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (which prevents cervical cancer) to avoid sexually transmitted infections (STIs); practicing safe sex; and learning about STI prevention. |
| 7. Ultraviolet (UV) | Light UV radiation increases the risk of skin cancer. | Prevent excessive exposure to ultraviolet light. If you need to do outdoor sports, take sun protection measures. Avoid long - term outdoor activities from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. You should not use sun lamps indoors. Apply sunscreen when doing sports. |
| 8. Ionizing Radiation | Ionizing Radiation can cause various cancers, particularly leukemia, lung cancer, thyroid cancer, and breast cancer. | Avoid exposure to ionizing radiation (such as unnecessary X-rays, scans, and imaging tests). Comply with occupational safety regulations and use appropriate protective equipment or clothing to reduce the risk of exposure to carcinogens in the workplace. |
| 9. Pollution | Pollution Carcinogenic chemicals in the environment can be absorbed through air or drinking water. | Try to avoid contact with polluted air, water sources, soil, and so on. Do not consume contaminated food (e.g., food containing aflatoxins). |
| 10. Congenital Factors | Congenital factors (e.g., genetic genes), family history, etc. | Conduct medical checks as fit. |
| Regular Cancer Screening | Middle-aged and older women: Focus on screening for breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, and colorectal cancer. Middle-aged and older men: Focus on screening for colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, and liver cancer. |
Early screening/ early detection/ early treatment. |
Part 3 - Comparison Between TCM and Western Medicine
Based on the above information, the following analysis/comparison can be made:
Similarities
1. From both TCM and Western medicine perspectives, most carcinogenic factors are highly similar, with only slight differences in terminology.
2. Both TCM and Western medicine classify cancer causes into "congenital" and "acquired". For "congenital factors", TCM uses terms such as "internal causes", "abnormal innate endowment", and "insufficient innate endowment", while Western medicine refers to "genes" or "family history".
3. Both TCM and Western medicine recognize smoking as a major carcinogenic factor.
4. Western medicine identifies overweight/obesity as an important cause of cancer, which is also acknowledged by TCM (referred to as "phlegm-damp constitution", i.e., obese constitution).
5. Both TCM and Western medicine consider unhealthy eating habits as a key carcinogenic factor. TCM describes this as "improper/unclean diet", and both agree that alcohol consumption is a carcinogenic factor.
6. Both TCM and Western medicine believe that environmental factors can affect cancer risk, such as environmental pollution (including air, drinking water, and other chemicals). TCM uses the term "external pathogenic toxins", while Western medicine refers to "infections", "ionizing radiation", etc.
7. Both TCM and Western medicine recognize lack of exercise as a carcinogenic factor.
Differences
1. TCM places greater emphasis on nature/climate. The "Six Excesses" (Wind, Cold, Summer Heat, Dampness, Dryness, Fire) refer to abnormal environmental and climatic changes related to temperature and humidity in modern terms. TCM’s mention of "summer heat (Fire)" (i.e., excessive sunbathing causing skin cancer) aligns with Western medicine.
2. TCM and Western medicine differ slightly in their views on whether stress is a carcinogenic factor. From a Western medicine perspective, stress is associated with diseases, but establishing a direct causal link between stress and cancer requires extensive scientific evidence, which is very difficult. In contrast, TCM clearly identifies unhealthy lifestyles as carcinogenic causes (classified as "neither internal nor external causes"), including mental/work stress, fast-paced life, staying up late/irregular schedules, and overwork (mental exhaustion from stress, physical exhaustion).
Part 4 - Conclusion
Overall, the differences between the two perspectives are minimal. Both agree that to prevent cancer, individuals should maintain a healthy lifestyle and seek early screening and treatment if any symptoms occur.
(November 2021)