A Case of Carcinoma of Rectum
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1995 May / Jun Vol IV No 3.
Pandey P.
Cases.
` Thuj / Chin / Nit-ac.
On September 7, 1984, a 53 year-old woman with biopsy-proven squamous cell carcinoma of the rectum was brought to my clinic in acute discomfort.
FAMILY HISTORY: Father-with severe eczema and diabetes mellitus. Mother - arthritis, hemorrhoids, and bronchitis. One brother and two sisters died of tuberculosis. One sister had diabetes, a second had eczema and asthma, and a third had eczema and arthritis.
PAST HISTORY: Frequent episodes of septic tonsillitis until age 6 or 7. Age 6 - whooping cough. Age 10 - eczema of the scalp suppressed by external applications. MArried at age 18. Gravida VII, Para V, Therapeutic abortions II. Age 30 - hemorrhoidal surgery. Age 45 - total hysterectomy secondary to fibroid tumors.
PRESENT ILLNESS:
Around age 49, she began to experience constant weight and pressure in the perineum with heaviness and occasional burning in the rectum. In time, the whole perineum became sensitive to pressure. She became unable to sit on a hard surface. Occasional show of haemorrhoids. The constant dull perineal discomfort changed to pain, at times severe. She underwent sigmoidoscopy and later surgery was done. She continued to deteriorate. The bleeding became more frequent and she sometimes unknowingly stained her underwear. The blood became slightly offensive and rectal pain became more severe. She became anorexic with insomnia and gradually lost weight.
Biopsy done June 14, 1984 at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, revealed "Squamous Cell Carcinoma". Specimen obtained "from rectal mass". A second biopsy done at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, on June 28, 1984, red: "Squamous cell carcinoma, anal canal". Rectal surgery removing the mass was done and she improved for some time. Later she underwent 30 sessions of radiotherapy. Her general condition deteriorated.
On September 7, 1984, she came with the following symptoms -
- Mentally very perturbed. Introverted. Silent & brooding.
- Averse to music and noise. Melancholic. Depressed. Sighing frequently. Fear of animals, especially dogs.
- Constant dull to sometimes very severe pain in the right shoulder with stiffness. Worse on raising the arm. X-ray of the cervical spine showed an enlarged right-sided cervical rib and two spurs on the 5th and 6th vertebrae.
- Constant, dull to severe pain in the perineum. Burning and pricking pain in the anus. Constant oozing of offensive serous discharge from the rectum. Very much afraid of passing stool as the pain increased for hours afterwards. At times she felt her rectum spasmodically contracting while passing stool. Local examination revealed protrusion of small, slightly blackish mass per anus with perianal swelling. Better from hot applications and hot drinks. Worse night, motion, and cold drinks. Craving for salty foods. Was vaccinated for smallpox a total of three times. Vaccination scars still prominent. Weight - 44 kgs. Pulse feeble and regular at 70 per minute. Blood pressure 160-70.
TREATMENT:
Placebo for the first two days. Then Thuja 30 one drop tid for 10 days after which she reported feeling better in general, but complained of excessive flatulence. China 30 q i d for three days after which she reported feeling much better. Placebo continued. After another month Thuja 200, two doses 15 minutes apart, was given followed by placebo. Reported feeling much better. She was placed on a strict vegetarian diet emphasizing fresh fruit and milk. No onions.
After another 20 days she reported a setback. Now Nitric-acid 30, tid for 10 days, was given. She reported a general improvement particularly in her appetite, sleep, and pain. Placebo for 15 days. Then Nitric-acid 200, two doses 15 minutes apart, was given followed by placebo. Further improvement continued. The serous discharge per rectum diminished as did its offensive odor. She showed more interest in life, was more cheerful, and gained 1 kg. Approximately 1 month later, she received Nitric-acid 1M, two doses 15 minutes apart, followed by placebo. Again, a steady improvement was noted. After another 10 days she began to relapse with a decrease in appetite, sleep, and cheerfulness.
In view of the family history, as well as the adage "When the best-selected remedy fails to improve permanently" (Allens Key Notes), I decided to give Tuberculinum 200, two doses 15 minutes apart. Within 48 hours she slept deeply for 10 hours and thereafter improved strikingly. She gained 2 kgs.
At this point, she and her family were very anxious to have another biopsy done as they wished to know exactly how much she had improved. I preferred that a biopsy be delayed. Notwithstanding, she went ahead and underwent a biopsy of the rectum at the all Indian Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi on December 6, 1984. The report came back: "There is no evidence of malignancy in this". She was continued on placebo.
Subsequently, she developed symptoms of protrusion of the rectum while passing stool together with stitching pain in the rectum. Ruta 30 t i d for 10 days. Within 20 days she had improved. Ruta 200, two powders, was given followed by placebo.
In the meantime, some of her allopathic doctor friends took issue with the biopsy report of December 6, 1984, doubting its accuracy.
Against my advice, she went for another rectal biopsy on January 8, 1985. Again, the report stated no malignancy.
She continued to improve on placebo. After another month, Nitric Acid 1M, two powders 15 minutes apart was given followed by placebo. She continued to improve.
After another two months, she developed a sense of heaviness in the perineum with slight pain in the rectum after passing stool. Nitric Acid 10M, two powders 15 minutes apart, was given, which promptly removed all her rectal discomfort.
She is currently leading a normal life, happy that she is cured. She has been advised never to use any medicines other than Homoeopathic and to check with me monthly. Here last visit was December 15, 1986. No complaints.
