ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the clinical effect of the combined therapy using argon-helium cryosurgery (Ar-He knife) and Chinese herbal medicine in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-seven patients of NSCLC were treated with the combined therapy and observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The treatment was successfully completed in all patients with mild adverse reactions. The effective rate was 83.8% 3 months after the operation, 79.6% 6 months after the operation, and 77.3% 12 months after the operation, with median survival of 9 months. The survival rate after 12 months was 46.67% (21/45), 34.62% (9/26) after 18 months, and 36.36% (4/11) after 24 months.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Argon-helium cryosurgery therapy is superior in its assured orientation, quick tumor load deprivation and less postoperational reaction. Combined with Chinese herbal medication, Argon-helium cryosurgery therapy can prolong survival time, relieve clinical symptoms, and elevate the quality of life in NSCLC patients, and is thus worthy of promotion.</p>