Traditional Chinese Medicine Herbs for Breast Cancer Prevention and Survival: A Narrative Review of Epidemiological Studies from Taiwan

This review aims to describe the association of integrating traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbs into conventional medicine (CM) in preventing breast cancer and improving survival rates among breast cancer patients of Taiwan.

Of 7 relevant studies, spanning 2014–2023, 4 investigated breast cancer risk in women with menopausal symptoms and other comorbidities. All 4 reported that TCM herbal use was associated with lower risks of developing breast cancer. Three studies investigated survival in newly-diagnosed breast cancer patients receiving CM. All reported that adjunctive TCM users had lower mortality rates than CM-only patients. However, the heterogeneity of study designs, populations, and interventions may limit the generalizability and robustness of the findings.

TCM herbs may promote breast cancer prevention and survival when used alongside CM. More rigorous observational research and clinical trials in specific patient populations are needed to guide clinical decision-making.