Alternative Meds?
 

Hi All, I just want to ask if anyone ever tried using medical cannabis as an alternative meds? I have read many articles about medical marijuana and how it can help you in terms of chronic pain, glaucoma, eating disorder, anxiety disorders and panic attacks, inflammation, even cancer and a lot more. Like this article about marijuana and cancer. Cbd and thc are also new to me and I don't even smoke. If this is true I cant find any solid conclusive evidence that speaks to its efficacy. Any personal experience or testimonial would be highly appreciated. Thanks

Re: Alternative Meds?
 

Katt;

My son-in-law uses marijuana oils to fight the pain he suffers in his back due to arthritis and scoliosis. During the day he uses oil containing CBD so he is able to work and at night he uses one with some THC which helps him get a good nights sleep. He is very happy with this treatment and finds the oils far better than smoking. I've also noticed a huge improvement in his overall health and being now that he is more rested and not suffering with pain.

However, as a cancer patient, I would stick to traditional treatments in the fight of the disease and perhaps use marijuana to assist with stress as well as with any pain issues.

Cathy

Re: Alternative Meds?
 

Dear Katt,

I live in Colorado, which has had medical marijuana for some time. People are always asking me if I use it.

I think the reason you can't find good evidence for efficacy is that there isn't any. I read recently that it's very difficult to study marijuana and/or its derivatives because it's illegal. It can be studied, but it's very difficult.

Some people swear by it. Patients having trouble keeping weight on might benefit from the well-known appetite stimulation effects of marijuana. Multiple people have told me it helps with pain management, and maybe it does, but I don't have much pain, and Ibuprofen works fine for me.

Cancer is the target of a vast amount of misinformation and quackery. I haven't taken the time to evaluate very many marijuana claims, but the ones I've seen have at least a few red flags, especially the "cure-all" claims. Here's a summary of some of those red flags: http://www.skepticalob.com/2014/05/s...-yourself.html

Cancer is an especially rich target for quackery because it's so complex. Most people don't know a lot about cancer, and I think they make assumptions based on illnesses they do know about. But it's not like the flu or a sinus infection. It's our own cells doing what cells do, but with malfunctions. "Switches" that are supposed to turn off or on fail to do so, and things get out of hand. It's a breakdown in normal processes.

There are lots of good sources debunking common cancer myths. This is a favorite. It has links to many other articles and blog posts: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-st...-a6709496.html

All that being said, I think it's perfectly OK for people with cancer to use any complementary treatment that isn't known to interfere with the real therapies they're getting. If it makes people happier, or helps them relax, or gives them a sense of control and mastery, then they might as well try it. This is especially true for people with advanced cancer.

Re: Alternative Meds?
 

I tried marijuana for pain after I had my surgery, and again for muscle pain after my first round of chemo, but it didn’t do anything for me. Apparently marijuana has no effect on some people, and I appear to be one of those people. I wish it did work for me for pain, as I would use it right now for my constant back pain.

As for whether marijuana helps to fight cancer, I asked my doctor if there was any evidence in this regard, and she said no. I think it’s important to stick with the traditional medicine for cancer, despite its many side-effects. If marijuana helps with those side-effects though, than I say use it.

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12/15 – First mammogram
01/16 – Second mammogram and ultrasound.
01/16 – Meet surgeon and go for third mammogram, second ultrasound and biopsy. Surgeon confirms cancer in left breast and lymph nodes and sets surgery date.
01/16 – Chest scan and bone scan done– all looks good.
02/16 – Surgery - left breast mastectomy and 16 lymph nodes removed (8 had cancer).
02/16 – CT scan done – small nodules on lung but Doctor advises it’s post surgical. They will continue to monitor just in case.
03/16 – Meet radiation oncologist and find out results of Pathology Report. I’m told that I have locally advanced breast cancer, based on the size of my tumour (7 cm!) and the fact that they found cancer cells in eight lymph nodes. I’m also told that I’m HER 2 positive, with high levels of estrogen and progesterone and that my cancer is stage 3, grade 2.
03/16 – Meet oncologist and am told that my cancer is actually grade 3, and that I should have done chemo before surgery. Too late now!
03/16 – Start first of six doses of chemo (Carboplatin and Docetaxal) and Herceptin (for 18 months). I was unable to get a full dose of Docetaxal after my first treatment due to liver enzymes being high.
04/16 – Have port put in.
06/16 – Finished chemo! One month off and then I start radiation.
06/16 – Start Tamoxifen.
07/16 – First radiation treatment – 24 more to go!
08/16 – Went for Genetic Testing to see if I have the BRCA gene. Tested negative for BRCA I and II
08/16 – Radiation oncologist biopsies “scar tissue” on my chest wall. I am told that I have a local recurrence and need to have rush surgery.
09/16 – Meet surgeon who advises that I need to meet with a plastic surgeon, as they will need to do a skin graft to close me up after surgery. Meet plastic surgeon and all looks good. A surgery date is set for October 4.
09/16 – Go for rush ultrasound, bone scan, breast MRI and CT scan.
09/16 – Meet oncologist who advises that the ultrasound and bone scan results look good, and that MRI shows three small masses at surgery site, but lymph nodes are clear. Still awaiting the results of the CT scan, but we are positive it will look good.
09/16 – Get a call from my oncologist, who advises that CT scan shows small spots on my lungs, and a large lymph node in the middle of my chest. This means the cancer has spread! She looks into getting me funded for TDM-1 and cancels my surgery.
10/16 – Meet oncologist, who advises that I have to take Perjeta before I can take TDM1. I start Perjeta/Herceptin every three weeks for an indefinite amount of time, and Taxol, which I will take two weeks in a row with one week off and then two weeks in a row for 8-16 treatments. Stop Tamoxifen.
10/16 – Meet surgeon, who reviews my CT scan and advises that the spots on my lungs may not be cancer, and that he doesn’t see a lymph node in my chest. He thinks it’s a spot on my lung. I’m feeling very confused! He advises that my oncologist doesn’t want me to have surgery to remove the three small masses on my scar line, as she wants to use them as a way to determine if the treatment is working. He advises that if they have not shrunk in 6 months, he will revisit surgery.
10/16 – CEA blood test to determine Tumour markers. Results were normal (2.7). My doctor advises that this could mean two things: (1) that the treatment is working, and the tumours are shrinking, or (2), that I'm one of those people who never get elevated CEA levels. Given that some people never get an elevated CEA level, this test doesn’t seem very accurate to me! Asked for PET scan, but am told I don’t qualify.
10/16 – Brain MRI – NED!
11/16 - CA-15-30 blood test – Tumour markers are normal at 19.
11/16 – Second CEA blood test – Tumours markers are still normal at 1.6 Second CA-15-30 blood test – Tumour markers are still normal at 19
11/16 – Develop lymphedema and have to wear a sleeve
12/16 – CT Scan shows that the tumors on my lungs and the lymph node in the middle of my chest are shrinking, and that some have resolved. Also, the small masses along my scar line are no longer visible. This means the medication is working!
12/16 – Small “pimple” shows up where old tumour on chest wall was located. Doctor is going to monitor it for now.
01/17 – A second “pimple” shows up on chest wall, as well as a small lump under the skin. My doctor thinks it’s scar tissue and will monitor it for now.
03/17 – Third CEA blood test and CA-15-30 blood test – Both normal at 2.5 and 25
03/17 – CT Chest scan to see if there’s improvement to chest and lungs – results are mixed. The good news is, lymph nodes are stable, there is improvement of previous lung changes due to radiation, and the cancer has not spread to my bones, spine or liver, etc. The bad news is that while some lung nodules remained stable, others increased by 1-2 mm and new ones have shown up. All of them were less than 1cm.
03/17 – Received my genetic test results from Foundation One. It found 11 genomic alterations, 3 therapies associated with potential clinical benefit, and 13 clinical trials from which I might benefit.
03/17 – Second brain MRI –NED!
03/17 – Ultrasound done to determine size of “pimples” on my chest wall. They will follow up with a second Ultrasound in three months, to see if they are growing.
04/17 – Was told that I have developed atelectasis due to shortness of breath, which is what’s causing my back pain.
05/17 – Full body CT scan scheduled to see if I’m still “stable”.

Re: Alternative Meds?
 

I saw a presentation last year by Cristina Sanchez, who has been doing research as part of a research group in Spain on Cannibinoids and cancer for 10 years. She showed a report where they studied mice with HER2+ breast cancer. CBD alone kills cancer cells, prevent them from growing, and prevent them from developing. The CBD combined with chemo doubled the effectiveness of the chemo, and when taken with radiation and greatly increased the effectiveness of the radiation. I wish I could find a copy of her report online.

I bought some ACDC oil (very high ratio of CBD:THC). I took it a little while and then lost interest because the other stuff I was doing was effective enough.

Since I've gotten my recurrence, I've been taking it religiously. I take it at night, which helps my sleep. If I take too much I get a headache. The recommendation that I was given was to take 150mg per day while I was taking Herceptin and Perjeta neo-adjuvantly. However, I never worked up to that high of a dose.

Here is a presentation that she gave: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTtnSlWLcyc

Re: Alternative Meds?
 

I found this to be incredibly helpful. About to start chemo and have been researching anything and everything regarding https://homegrowncannabisco.com/cbd-kush-autoflower for additional treatment. Discovering differences from straight from the plant vs hemp. Do you have an opinion? Also you would suggest vaping as opposed to tincture etc? Not sure where to get the best info as oncologist recommended discussing with dispensary but that doesn't sound like my best choice.

Re: Alternative Meds?
 

Many people working at the dispensaries are very knowledgeable as to what strains of pot will work for various issues - some will help you sleep, others will help with pain, others with helping you have an appetite.