The image from before graduation has completely overturned in his mind.

If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, Ji Xiuwen would never have believed that this was his old classmate, Lu Xuan.

However, amidst surprise, there was also immense gratitude.

Fortunately, it was his old classmate. Otherwise, who else would have explained things to him so thoroughly?

When you don't understand, try to explain things in simple and easy-to-understand terms.

"When it comes to the treatment of esophageal cancer, there are four scenarios, and the methods vary accordingly."

Lu Xuan continued to introduce to Ji Xiuwen and Su Kenan: "First is phlegm and qi obstruction; patients with this often have a red tongue with a thin, greasy coating, and a wiry, slippery pulse. They feel obstruction and discomfort in the esophagus when swallowing, fullness in the chest, and sometimes pain; relieved by emotional comfort and aggravated by depression. They may also experience belching, hiccups, spitting phlegm, dry mouth, thirst, and constipation. Treatment should clear stagnation and transform phlegm, moisten dryness, and lower qi.

Second is fluid deficiency and heat accumulation; these patients have a red dry tongue, possibly cracked, with a wiry, thin, rapid pulse. Difficulty and pain in swallowing, water can be ingested, but food cannot pass through. Most food is vomited back up after eating. They may experience burning pain in the chest and back, emaciation, dry skin, restlessness, dry mouth and throat, craving for cold drinks, and constipation. For this condition, nourishing fluids, clearing heat, and dissolving accumulation is essential.

Third is internal blood stasis; these patients have a purple dark tongue or a red tongue with little moisture, with a thin, choppy pulse. They have obstructed swallowing, chest and diaphragm pain, and can't ingest food, sometimes not even water. Food or drink is vomited immediately, with a darkened complexion, dry skin, emaciation, constipation like sheep feces, or vomiting dark red fluids, or bloody stool. Treatment should break stasis, resolve nodules, and nourish yin and blood.

Fourth is qi deficiency with weak yang; these patients show a pale tongue with a white coating, and a thin, weak pulse. They have long-term swallowing difficulties, unable to eat, pale complexion, fatigue, body coldness, and shortness of breath. They may also have face swelling, foot edema, spitting clear saliva, abdominal distension, and loose stools. Treatment should warm and reinforce the spleen and kidneys, boost qi, and restore yang."

After saying all this, Lu Xuan didn't stop and continued: "Although there are four conditions for esophageal cancer patients, there are similarities in medication characteristics in clinical practice.

The occurrence of esophageal cancer is due to insufficiency in organ and blood function, which is essentially deficiency with substantial markers, located in the esophagus, associated with stomach qi. The basic mechanism involves esophageal narrowing and dryness due to fluid and blood dryness, so treatment should focus on nourishing yin and moistening dryness; often using a base of Sandy Shen and Ophiopogon Decoction, modified with additions such as sandy shen, ophiopogon, Polygonatum odoratum, Dendrobium, raw Rehmannia, Figwort Root, with supplements like Amur Corktree Bark, stir-fried Gardenia, Anemarrhena to firm yin and clear heat.

Its occurrence is also often due to emotional disturbances, leading to stagnated qi, causing blood stasis. Therefore, in treating esophageal cancer, attention must be paid to soothe qi without harming it, using rosehip, fingered citron, and green calabash plum for soothing qi, and less of mu xiang, hou po, Citrus Peel, and Green Peel which deplete yin and consume qi.

And the most important point is to select medication reasonably according to different patterns and specific patient conditions, focusing either on removing pathogens or supporting the body, or balancing both."

At this point, Lu Xuan was somewhat parched.

Ji Xiuwen, being sharp-eyed, smiled and handed over a glass of water.

Lu Xuan paused, then smiled, took it, drank a few sips, and instead of continuing, he turned to look at Tong He: "Your illness is closely related to yin deficiency and heat accumulation, and after surgery, you underwent radiotherapy. Actually, radiotherapy itself is a kind of heat toxin, so fluid deficiency is more severe, leading to a state of qi and yin deficiency. Symptoms such as dry and painful throat, occasional dry cough, pale red tongue, scanty coating, and a thin pulse manifest."

Tong He took a breath: "Dr. Lu, I understand some of what you're saying, but most of it is only half-understood. Please speak directly. I know about my condition, and relying solely on radiotherapy, I won't live long. If you really can't help, I can only accept it."

Lu Xuan looked at him: "And to be frank, with esophageal cancer, curing it isn't possible, but you've had surgery, and as a doctor, what I can do is prevent relapse or metastasis."

"However, treating a disease isn't just the doctor's business, you also need to cooperate."

Tong He grinned like a child: "I don't dare to wish for a cure, but if it doesn't relapse or metastasize, I'm already grateful, wouldn't dare ask for more."

"Can it really prevent relapse or even metastasis?" Ji Xiuwen couldn't believe it, looking at his old classmate, this was a highly fatal esophageal cancer.

Lu Xuan replied: "It can, but as I just said, treating a disease isn't just the doctor's business, it's primarily up to the patient himself."

Saying this, Lu Xuan looked at Tong He again: "Don't overthink things, since you've had surgery, just regard it as if the illness isn't there. After taking medicine, if there's no discomfort, don't go for unnecessary checks.

Many cancer patients don't actually die from the cancer itself, but are scared to death.

As long as you can eat and sleep well, and keep a cheerful mood, it's better than any checkup or medicine."

"I get it, thank you, Dr. Lu." Tong He nodded repeatedly.

"I don't think too much usually, just accepting that having cancer is having cancer."

"That's the best mindset, don't care about it."

Lu Xuan said with a smile, lowering his head to write the prescription.

Ophiopogon, Dendrobium, Banlangen, Silver Chaihu, Codonopsis, Whole Gualou, Cicada Shell, Zhe Fritillaria, Bai Bu, dandelion, viola, rose, Qianhu, Zhuru, Bai Hua she she cao.

After writing, Lu Xuan handed the prescription for Ji Xiuwen to take a look: "Any thoughts?"

Ji Xiuwen glanced at it and fell into thought.

In Lu Xuan's prescription, there weren't any unusual Chinese medicines, almost all were common ones, and he knew their properties as he was after all a top graduate from Zhijiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Even if he couldn't diagnose and differentiate diseases, he had memorized quite a few medical books like the Materia Medica.

"Most are medicines for boosting qi, engendering fluids, nourishing yin, and moistening the lungs." Under Lu Xuan's gaze, Ji Xiuwen thought and said.

"It seems to be based on the Nourishing Yin and Clearing Lung Decoction with some modifications."

"The books weren't read in vain."

Lu Xuan gave Ji Xiuwen a nod of approval, explaining the next moment: "Codonopsis boosts qi, Ophiopogon, Dendrobium, and Zhe Fritillaria nourish yin, dandelion, viola, Banlangen, and Silver Chaihu clear heat and detoxify, Gualou expands the chest, Zhuru descends adverse qi, Bai Bu and Qianhu transform phlegm, Cicada Shell benefits the throat."

After that, Lu Xuan didn't ask much, as knowledge should be learned bit by bit; saying too much, Ji Xiuwen might not understand either.

Moreover, what had been said already covered the treatment for all esophageal cancer scenarios.

Whether it can be digested depends on Ji Xiuwen's capability.

Once Su Kenan finished registering the information and printed the fee receipt, before Tong He left the clinic, Lu Xuan reminded him again: "Remember, don't think too much."

Although Tong He's mental state wasn't good due to radiotherapy, his mindset was much better than many cancer patients.

Seeing Tong He leave with a smile, Lu Xuan relaxed a bit.

Whether it will relapse or metastasize, the medication may play a role, but the key also lies with Tong He himself.

Maintaining a happy mood can make the medication work twice as well with half the effort.

If the mood is gloomy, the medication's effect naturally decreases, increasing the likelihood of tumor recurrence or even metastasis.

If it really metastasizes, the treatment becomes much more difficult.

However, in dealing with such patients, Lu Xuan can only emphasize certain points more.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have advised Tong He to avoid unnecessary examinations.

People are terrified of cancer, and what they fear most are those cold, impersonal examination reports.

If you can eat, sleep, with no pain or itch on the body, what need is there for examinations?

Thinking about this, Lu Xuan instinctively picked up the cup at hand for a sip, then put it back.

"Dr. Lu..."

Ji Xiuwen, looking at the water cup not far from him, then glanced at the white thermos cup Lu Xuan just put down, couldn't help pointing to the water cup in front of him: "This one's yours."

The other one belonged to Su Kenan.

"Hmm?"

Lu Xuan looked at the water cup in front of him, startled, and then realized the cup he just picked up wasn't his, it was Su Kenan's, sitting beside him.

He had taken the wrong cup.

For a moment, Lu Xuan was extremely embarrassed: "I'm sorry, I was a bit distracted just now. I'll get you a new cup of water."

Su Kenan, with a dazed look, watched Lu Xuan who was a bit flustered, her slender fingers intertwined under the table, with a hint of panic in her eyes, she responded softly: "No... it's okay."

"It's not dirty, it can still be used."

With that, she picked up the cup Lu Xuan had just put down and took a delicate sip.

Then, her ears quickly turned red.

The atmosphere in the clinic, joyful and pleasant, was simultaneously filled with a strong bittersweet flavor.

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