Pineal tumours originate from the pineal gland which is situated almost at the centre of the skull (₅). They are rather rare and represent less than 1% of all intracranial tumors (₆). Pineal tumors can be either a pineoblastoma or a pineocytoma. Pineoblastoma is an invasive and highly malignant neoplasm that grows fast while pineocytoma is generally benign and is slow growing (₅, ₇, ₈).

Small benign brain tumours may be asymptomic. But as the tumours grow bigger they may compress the tectal plate resulting in partial or complete obstruction of the aqueduct of Sylvis leading to secondary hydrocephalus.

Patients with brain tumours may present with a wide variety of symptoms such as headaches, drowsiness, fits, feeling of being sick, moments of unconsciousness, paralysis of upward or downward gaze, abnormalities of pupil, paralysis and precocious puberty (₄, ₅, ₆, ₇, ₉).

The treatment of pineal region tumors is controversial (₁₀) and this seems to apply to other brain cancers as well. Tobias wrote that: As far as cure is concerned, there is no use pretending that brain tumours are truly curable (₁₁).

Like in any other cancers, brain tumours are treated with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. Where there is obstructive hydrocephalus, shunting is done. These mainstream modalities unfortunately are developed to treat cancers in adults. Treating children requires different considerations compared with adult oncology since potential treatment side effects may be different to those in adults (₄). Subjecting children to similar treatments can indiscriminately kill both cancerous and healthy cells, disrupting the development of the growing tissues which eventually could lead to long-term disability for the young patients (₁₂, ₁₃).

While radiotherapy may be routinely used in adults, such treatment to children must be done with great caution. Children's brain tissues are sensitive to radiation. This may also mean that the radiation used to treat the tumour could cause more damage to the brain than the tumour itself (₁₃).

The immediate side effects of radiotherapy are hair loss, tiredness, nause or feeling sick and lowered resistance to infection. However, it is the long-term effects and permanent damages that are most worrying. According to the National Cancer Insitutue, USA, more than half of the children treated for brain tumours will have some sort of physical problem, for example limb weakness, poor balance or tremors. About 1 in 4 children will have fits or blackouts occasionally and about 1 in 3 will have headaches or migraines. A smaller number of children can lose the sight of one or both eyes, or have hearing difficulties. Radiating the heads of young girls could lead to early puberty. Most irradiated children showed a drop in their IQ scores and they could have poor memory, confusion, learning difficulties and personality changes. Unfortunately, many children suffer permanent damages because of the treatment (₁₄).

We could understand QM's frustration. She kept asking: Why did the doctor say that the tumour is getting bigger. When I looked at the measurement in the radiologist's report, I believe the tumour is getting smaller. Even my 13-year old daughter calculated it out and said it was smaller. Why must the doctor keep insisting that the tumour is growing bigger and want to operate QM?

We could not answer QM's question.

In 2002, the tumour was small and in 2003 and 2004 had since grown in size (Table 1). The question we wish to ask is: what can we expect the tumour size to be in 2005? Simple logic will tell us that as a natural flow of event, the tumour would grow bigger.

Figure 2

Table 1: Progression of tumour growth from 2002 to 2005

When QM initially came to see us, we posed the following questions:

1. Though it may appear that logically the tumour will grow in size if nothing is done, can radiotherapy cause any harm? We told QM that if you think radiotherapy is safe and is beneficial, then go ahead and radiate the brain. If you are not 100% sure that radiotherapy is beneficial then you should look for another option.

2. Taking herbs does not guarantee that the tumour will not grow in size. But what harm can the herbs ever do to QM? We told QM, You have already wasted two years waiting. Waiting for another month or so is not going to make much of a difference. And there is a chance QM will benefit from the herbs – which is safer.

The challenge is this: QM often had headaches, probably due to the intracranial pressure exerted by the tumour in the brain. If the headache ever gets worse after taking the herbs, then it is not a good sign. Then, there is justification to stop taking the herbs. But if the headaches disappeared, it means the herbs are doing something. Continue with the herbs and see what eventually happen.

The herbs may not be able to make the tumour disappear or even shrink it, but then aim to maintain the status quo – be happy for as long as the tumour has not grown any bigger and does not cause any further problem. A review of medical literature does indicate that treatment of juvenile brain cancers could cause short- and long-term damages. As discussed earlier, the risks appear to be high.

In this case, we rejoice that after taking herbs for a year, the tumour did not grow in size. But more important QM is able to lead a normal life. She is able to go to school and do all the things that any school children do. All the discomforts of headaches, dizziness, etc. have all disappeared.

This is not the first case of such success. In May 2002, Sunan, a 35-year-old male from Thailand had a tumour in his brain. The family declined even a biopsy. Sunan took herbs and is well, up to this writing.

Prapti, a 23 year-old female from Indonesia was warded in the ICU in a hospital in Jakarta in early 2001. She was only on supportive care and was in coma for two months due to a relapse of her brain cancer. After taking the herbs while in the ICU, Prapti came out of her coma and resumed a normal life. As of this writing she is doing well and is a senior student at a Theological College in Java, Indonesia.

Science is supposed to be objective. The reason why QM was not operated on earlier is because the position of the tumour in her brain made it dangerous for an operation. This was what the doctor told QM. When QM gave us the MRIs, we brought them to China to consult with one of China's top brain surgeon. He too was of the opinion that the location of the tumour in the brain makes surgery extremely risky. Leave it alone, don't touch it, was his advice.

We wonder what makes something not operable become operable? Even if the tumour has grown a bit bigger (in this case it has not), it does not alter the fact that the location still remains the same – and is dangerous for an operation.

We are aware that taking herbs, instead of following conventional mainstream treatment does not go down well with the medical community. However, our data and experiences show that taking herbs do no harm, and on the contrary could turn out to be a blessing. Stephen Saga, cancer specialist at the Hamilton Regional Cancer Centre and Canadian Radiation Oncology Services, Toronto, wrote: Scientific research is demonstrating that it (Chinese Medicine) has a useful role to play in cancer treatment... Harmony is restored through complex pattern of herbal chemicals interacting with the dynamic information flow of molecules within and between cells. This system encompasses much more than conventional pharmacology (₁₅). Writing in the foreword of the same book, James Gordon, Chair of the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy said: Chinese Medicine can, and should, be available to everyone who is being treated for cancer.