Korean Medicine Treatment for Nausea, Oral Pain, and Reduced Oral Intake after Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy for Tonsil Cancer: A Case Report

Objective: This case report aimed to describe the clinical outcomes of Korean medicine treatment for concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT)-induced nausea, oral pain, and reduced oral intake in a patient with tonsil cancer.Methods: A 70-year-old man with human papillomavirus-positive squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil (stage I) received Korean medicine treatment, including <i>Bihwa-eum</i> (比和飮), acupuncture, moxibustion, Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture, and Chenggugamrosu (淸口甘露水) gargling, for 14 days following CCRT.Results: After 14 days of Korean medicine treatment, nausea improved from a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) score of 8 to 2, and oral pain improved from an NRS score of 9 to 4. The Food Intake Level Scale score increased from 1 to 6. The patient resumed regular oral feeding without total parenteral nutrition after discharge, and no adverse events were observed.Conclusion: Korean medicine treatment may serve as a beneficial supportive approach for managing CCRT-induced nausea, oral pain, and reduced oral intake in patients with tonsil cancer. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.