Posted by The process of cancer treatment has side effects that usually overwhelm the patient. The side effects of chemotherapy include nausea and vomiting. These side effects usually make the patient feeling weak and dizzy. Studies show that these effects can be minimized by smoking medical marijuana.
A number of small studies of smoked marijuana found that it can be helpful in treating nausea and vomiting from cancer chemotherapy.
A few studies have found that inhaled (smoked or vaporized) marijuana can be helpful treatment of neuropathic pain (pain caused by damaged nerves).
There are also studies to prove that cannabis does not only reduces the adversity of the side effects but it also reduces the size of cancer tumors.
Previous studies have suggested that cannabinoids, of which tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is one, have anti-cancer properties. In 2009, researchers at Complutense University in Spain found that THC induced the death of brain cancer cells in a process known as “autophagy.”
When human tumors in mice were targeted with doses of THC, the researchers found that two cell receptors were particularly associated with an anti-tumor response.
The researchers found that administering THC to mice with human tumors initiated autophagy and caused the growth of the tumors to decrease. Two human patients with highly aggressive brain tumors who received intracranial administration of THC also showed similar signs of autophagy, upon analysis.
The team behind the new study – co-led by Complutense University and the University of Anglia (UEA) in the UK – claims to have discovered previously unknown “signaling platforms” that allow THC to shrink tumors.
The researchers induced tumors in mice using samples of human breast cancer cells. When the tumors were targeted with doses of THC, the researchers found that two cell receptors were particularly associated with an anti-tumor response.
Sourced from: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/279571.php
The question that everyone would like answered confidently is if it is ok to give marijuana to a family member or friend who is battling cancer. The fortunate answer is yes, you can.
There are a few things more frightening in life than being diagnosed with cancer. Fortunately, medical marijuana can be an effective treatment for cancer symptoms and a good alternative to many drugs currently being used.
It can help with prostate cancer, lung cancer, leukemia, brain cancer, colorectal cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer and more.
At the same time, it helps in alleviating symptoms that are associated with traditional cancer treatment such as nausea and vomiting. However, many people do not know this because the medical benefits of marijuana are overshadowed by its stigma.
Sourced from: http://www.royalqueenseeds.com/blog-can-you-use-medical-marijuana-for-cancer-treatment–n56
There are several advantages of marijuana to cancer patients. It is important to know these advantages before taking the next step of using medical cannabis.
Thankfully, cannabis research is taking off in Israel, where medical marijuana is legal. Just this year, a study involving 200 cancer patients found medical marijuana use led to “significant improvements” across “all” cancer and cancer treatment-related symptoms.
- Nausea and Vomiting
Marijuana may be best known for its ability to reduce nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. It’s so effective that a pill form of THC (Marinol) has been approved by the FDA for treating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting since 1985.
- Weight Loss
Along with nausea, patients undergoing chemotherapy often find it hard to maintain normal weight. Thankfully, marijuana has been shown to not only relieve nausea, but stimulate appetite as well. For patients with cancer, marijuana can help improve food intake and prevent unhealthy loss of weight.
- Mood
Cancer patients often suffer from mood disorders such as depression. While it’s no secret that marijuana makes users feel good, research seems to explain why. As many studies have found, chemicals in marijuana appear to have significant anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects.
- Pain
Another well-known effect of marijuana is pain relief. And while its benefits seem to span a range of chronic pain disorders, studies show that marijuana can help reduce pain in cancer as well.
Sourced from: http://www.leafscience.com/2013/10/23/10-ways-marijuana-can-help-cancer-patients/
