Successful Phytotherapy for Acute Refractory Radiation Cystitis in a Cervical Cancer Patient: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Urology
• Phytotherapy

Background:

• Radiation cystitis is a common and challenging complication following pelvic cancer radiotherapy.
• Existing treatments for radiation cystitis are often complex and yield limited efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of radiation cystitis successfully treated with phytotherapy.
• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ich Nieu Khang in managing radiation cystitis symptoms.

Main Methods:

• A clinical case of a 54-year-old female with small cell cervical cancer (FIGO stage IIIC) experiencing grade 2-3 radiation cystitis post-chemoradiation.
• Patient presented with urgency, frequency, dysuria, and abdominal pain, unresponsive to acupuncture and corticosteroids.
• Treatment involved a course of Ich Nieu Khang phytotherapy tablets.

Main Results:

• Significant symptom improvement within 24 hours of initiating Ich Nieu Khang.
• Complete resolution of radiation cystitis symptoms within 10 days.
• Ultrasonography confirmed reduced bladder wall thickening and improved bladder evacuation; treatment was well-tolerated over 60 days.

Conclusions:

• Phytotherapy, specifically Ich Nieu Khang, shows potential as a viable treatment option for radiation cystitis.
• Further controlled clinical trials are warranted to validate these findings and support broader clinical adoption.