Advances in the Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

In China, with the changes in lifestyle and dietary habits (such as high-fat, high-protein, and low-dietary-fiber diets), the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC) continue to rise, making it one of the most common malignant tumors of the digestive tract in the country. Current treatment modalities mainly include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and molecular targeted therapy. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has certain advantages in alleviating the toxic side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, reducing postoperative tumor recurrence and metastasis, improving quality of life, and prolonging survival time. This article discusses the research progress of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of colorectal cancer in recent years, with the aim of informing clinical practice.