A 14 years overall survival of a patient with stage IV carcinoma of cervix with lung metastasis - A case report of Ayurveda based integrative approach

Abstract

Background

Carcinoma of the cervix is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women. The commonest metastatic site in cervical cancers is lung. Prognosis of cervical cancer with lung metastasis is very poor.

Case presentation

The present patient, an inhabitant of rural India, was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of cervix in stage III, grade II in July 2011. She underwent radical course of pelvic radiotherapy along with concurrent weekly chemotherapy, also received two sittings of brachytherapy after completing external beam radiotherapy. Before initiating radical radiotherapy in 2011, she received a combination of personalised/tailored herbo-mineral Ayurvedic medicines for 1 year and 10 months with an aim to minimise the side effects of radiotherapy. After completing radiotherapy, she was treated with a set of Ayurvedic medicines mainly to boost her immunity and to prevent recurrence. She was asymptomatic with good quality of life; all her radiological and biochemical parameters were within normal range till 2016. During her routine periodic investigations in March 2016, X-ray chest revealed nodular opacity on peripheral aspect of left mid zone. Patient underwent CT guided left lung mass biopsy which confirmed the diagnosis as squamous cell carcinoma of left lung (non-small cell type). At this point, the primary cancer was metastasized to lung and upgraded from stage III to stage IV. For this, she was treated with palliative course of radiotherapy. She has been taking regularly oral Ayurvedic medicines till date.

Conclusion

Progression free survival of six years and overall survival of 14 years along with exceptional good quality of life has been observed in Stage IV cervical cancer patient with lung metastasis. This has been achieved by integrative approach of conventional cancer treatment of radiotherapy and personalised adjunct Ayurvedic treatment containing combination of oral herbo-mineral metallic medicines.