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

Radiation cystitis is a frequent complication that can occur after therapeutic irradiation of pelvic cancers. The current treatment for this condition is complex and often ineffective. We present a clinical case of a 54-year-old patient diagnosed with small cell cervical cancer FIGO stage IIIC who developed grade 2-3 radiation cystitis following post-operational chemoradiation therapy. The patient exhibited increased urinary urgency and frequency, dysuria, and low abdominal pain, which failed to respond to acupuncture and corticosteroid treatments. A course of Ich Nieu Khang phytotherapy tablets, resulted in significant improvement of symptoms within 24 hours of initiation. The symptoms resolved completely within 10 days, and ultrasonography documented a marked decrease in bladder wall thickening and improved bladder evacuation function. The phytotherapy was well-tolerated, and no side-effects were observed during the 60-day treatment period. These findings suggest that phytotherapy may be viable for managing radiation cystitis. However, further controlled clinical trials are needed to confirm the efficacy of Ich Nieu Khang and promote its broader clinical applications.