October 8, 2020 10:56 am ETEstimated Read Time: 5 Minutes
Cancer patients around the world get treated with powerful medication and therapy, which is accompanied by a host of adverse side effects which reduces the quality of life, more so than cancer alone. Cancer patients tend to get worse before better due to the side-effects of treatment. Patients then get administered additional medication in order to treat those side-effects. That makes a large number of pharmaceutical medications pumping through their symptoms. Now, research has revealed promising evidence that cannabis can be effective for treating those symptoms, essentially reducing the number of required pharmaceuticals.
What is Chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy has become notorious for its powerful chemicals that kill fast-growing cells in the body. The treatment is an aggressive form of chemical drug therapy and it is available in different varieties, which can be used on their own or in combination (with other forms of chemotherapy or other treatments such as radiation and surgery). Chemotherapy is used to kill troublesome cells, like the cancerous ones which multiple faster than our body’s normal cells. Chemotherapy is most likely being administered in order to (a) reduce the total number of cancerous cells, (b) prevent cancerous cells from spreading, (c) reduce tumor size, and (d) alleviate current symptoms.
The variety of chemotherapy that will be administered to a cancer patient depends on the type and stage of cancer, overall health, cancer, and treatment history as well as on the goals and preferences.
The treatment can be administered as pills, shots, creams, infusions (drip into veins) as well as directly to one area of the body. When chemotherapy is administered to one area of the body it is directly given to the abdomen (intraperitoneal chemotherapy), chest cavity (intrapleural chemotherapy), through the urethra into the bladder (intrathecal chemotherapy) or central nervous system (intrathecal chemotherapy).
To kill hidden cancer cells after other treatments.
To prepare individuals for other treatments.
To alleviate signs and symptoms.
Chemotherapy is commonly used as a treatment for cancer but it can also be used to prepare individuals with bone marrow diseases for stem cell transplant as well as controlling overactive immune systems in conditions such as lupus.
Apply For Your Medical Marijuana Card Today
Veriheal has satisfied hundreds of thousands of patients nationwide
Get approved or your money back
Appointments available on-demand
Customer support available 24/7
What are the Side Effects of Chemotherapy?
Just as chemotherapy has become notorious for its power, so has it gained a reputation for the adverse side-effects which could be experienced by the patients. Each chemotherapy drug has different side effects due to the different strengths as well as how it is administered.
Common side effects: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss, loss of appetite, fatigue, fever, mouth sores, pain, constipation, easy bruising, bleeding, and in personal experience, pale complexion. These side effects can usually be prevented or treated and they usually go away after the patient stops taking the treatment.
Long-lasting or/and late-developing side effects: damage to lung tissue, heart problems, infertility, kidney problems, nerve damage, and the risk of returning cancer.
The Study by Researchers at Australia’s Chris O’Brien Lifehouse
A research team at Australia’s Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, a world-class non-profitable cancer treatment center and full operational cancer hospital, found that cannabis is effective for alleviating side effects associated with taking chemotherapy as well as that cancer patients prefer medical cannabis over pharmaceutical medication for the treating symptoms.
The study involved 80 patients at the treatment center and hospital, where they administered cannabis capsules or a placebo since the study is a placebo-controlled trial. The team organized the study to ensure that it yields high-quality evidence that accurately reflects the effectiveness of cannabis for cancer patients. It was explained that cannabis is being considered due to the fact that so many cancer patients suffer from vomiting and nausea despite taking the best anti-nausea and vomiting medications. The cannabis capsules administered to the participants in the study contained equal amounts of cannabis cannabinoids known as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is commonly associated with the intoxicating effects of cannabis but despite that, Dr. Peter Grimison, a medical oncologist, explained that “More than four in five patients said they preferred having cannabis despite some side-effects because they had better control of nausea and vomiting”.
The team of researchers is now only halfway through recruiting patients at cancer centers. However, one of the participants, Harry Freeman, took the cannabis capsules during his final rounds of chemotherapy for testicular cancer and reported that the capsules made him feel more tired but that he could tolerate the treatment much better.
Other Supportive Studies
A study published by the Minnesota Department of Health found that cancer patients enrolled in a state medical cannabis program reported a significant reduction in symptoms and their severity, which also included a 50% reduction in vomiting.
A study published by Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncologydetermined that cannabis offers many benefits as a “supportive and palliative” care for cancer patients. The study also found that cannabis can treat chemotherapy-induced nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, pain, and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
As the research portrays, cannabis provides promise and hope for alleviating chemotherapy side-effects, especially in terms of nausea, vomiting, pain, and boosts the patient’s ability to better handle the chemotherapy. Most of the studies concluded by stating that more precise research needs to be done, but fortunately, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence available and ever-increasing availability of research. If you have any experience with consuming cannabis to help with cancer and chemotherapy symptoms, let us know in the comment section below.
Chane Leigh, aka The Bud Fairy, is a South African cannabis advocate and enthusiast with a firey personality and a thirst for travel. She loves to educate people and to question the norms.
When you take a dab, you’ll notice a dark, sticky residue left over in your dab rig. This substance is called reclaim, and yes, you can dab reclaim. But what is cannabis reclaim? And is it safe to dab? What is Reclaim? Can You Dab Reclaim? How to Collect Reclaim from a Dab Rig Health…
With its own set of terms and practices distinct from other forms of cannabis, the intricate world of cannabis concentrates—sometimes called extracts—can be overwhelming. A concentrate is a highly potent concentrated cannabis product made by extracting terpenes and cannabinoids (think THC) from cannabis plant material. While there are multiple ways to consume concentrates, the most…
So you love smoking cannabis, but you’re tired of the same ole rolling papers. Perhaps you feel like you’ve graduated from dumping out the tobacco and shoving weed into an empty cigarette. Maybe you’ve recently learned about the potential dangers and risks associated with tobacco blunt wraps and want a healthier option. Let’s explore some…
When you decide that you are going to dabble in cannabis cultivation, you have many different decisions to make. You’ll have to decide whether you’re growing indoors or outdoors, as well as in soil, or the route of hydroponics. You’ll also have to pick what type of planters to use, what grow medium to use,…
Professional wrestling legend Terry Gene Bollea, also known as Hulk Hogan, recently mentioned how CBD has helped him deal with addiction. In an interview with Muscle & Health magazine, he revealed that he has swapped opioids and alcohol for CBD. Worthy of note is that the therapeutic value of CBD is being studied for substance…
We use our own as well as third party cookies to improve your site experience and the services we make available. You can learn more about our use of cookies in our Privacy Policy.
Content Disclamer
The statements made regarding cannabis products on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Cannabis is not an FDA-approved substance and is still illegal under federal law. The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is not intended as medical advice and should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional. We strongly recommend that you consult with a physician or other qualified healthcare provider before using any cannabis products. The use of any information provided on this website is solely at your own risk.