Overview of the role of traditional Chinese medicine in oncology treatment

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), focus is placed on restoring the body’s natural balance and supporting the immune system on the path to recovery. In the field of oncology, this means that TCM has great synergy with supportive and palliative healthcare. To date, there have been many research papers published on the ways TCM can be used as an adjuvant therapy, backed by good scientific results. However, in Singapore, there still exists a divide between “eastern” and “western” healthcare systems. The aim of this study is to hence understand and evaluate the current state of TCM with regards to the field of oncology in Singapore. Questionnaires were given out to 43 TCM physicians to identify the most pressing issues regarding the integration of TCM into the mainstream healthcare system and understand their views. Results showed that physicians had a pessimistic view of the popularity of TCM despite having several cancer patients come to them for supportive care, and their greatest worry being that western medicine doctors were not receptive towards the use of TCM. It was concluded that government bodies should work towards integrating TCM into the current healthcare system for patient benefit.Bachelor of Science in Biological Science