Every day, more cannabis research is occurring, and many patients are asking whether medical marijuana (MMJ) can treat cancer. Unfortunately, there is a significant amount of incorrect information out there, so MedWell Health wrote this article to separate fact from fiction.
Claims that cannabis can cure cancer are overreaching, but claims that MMJ has no medicinal value at all are also incorrect. The truth is somewhere in between.
More and more, oncologists are in support of medical cannabis use as part of an overall cancer treatment plan. MMJ is effective at alleviating many of the symptoms of cancer or the side effects of cancer treatments like chemotherapy.
CBD and THC have both been shown to be effective for pain relief. In fact, pain relief is the primary reason people turn to MMJ. THC/CBD combination remedies are effective; the drug Sativex is a THC/CBD FDA-approved pain relief drug for use by patients in the advanced stages of cancer. CBD also fights inflammation, without the dangerous side effects of opioid drugs.
Cannabinoids like CBD are very effective anti-emetics, working to control nausea and vomiting that often accompanies chemotherapy treatments. Substantial research shows CBD can suppress nausea, and two synthetic forms of THC — dronabinol and nabilone – have been approved by the FDA specifically to treat nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy. Cannabis can also stimulate appetite, so it is very effective in helping cancer patients get proper nutrition and keep weight on.
Cancer Fighter?
Early studies show that cannabinoids like cannabidiol (CBD) and others can slow or even halt cancer cell growth in several types of cancer (breast, liver, leukemia, brain, and melanoma.) Cannabinoids have been shown to reduce the spread of tumors and make certain cancer cells much less viable, therefore more susceptible to cell death. Furthermore, cannabinoids do not affect healthy normal tissues.
Mainstream recognized agencies like the National Cancer Institute have recognized cannabis’ ability to fight inflammation and inhibit tumor growth.
How Can You Use MMJ to Treat Cancer?
The term “cancer” broadly describes a wide range of conditions of abnormal cell growth, so there will likely not be a “cure-all” single solution for every type of cancer.
Most doctors report cancer patients to suffer from pain, nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, insomnia, and depression. Although nearly 75% of patients are interested in learning about MMJ, few rarely get information, according to a Cancer published journal article.
Talk to your doctor, or find a new doctor who is open to and knowledgeable about Medical Marijuana. Unfortunately, most physicians remain very unaware but luckily, MedWell Health and Wellness Centers is right in your area.
Come visit one of our specialized doctors and ask questions about your pain medication options in relation to your cancer treatment.
Aaron Bloom serves as the CEO, overseeing the mission and growth of DocMJ and Medwell Health and Wellness Centers. Aaron’s passion for improving patients’ lives comes from his background in health care. For more than 20 years, Aaron owned, operated, and represented traditional healthcare organizations. This experience created a passion for finding improved ways to relieve suffering. His goal as CEO is to work daily to relieve all patients who seek better health and wellness through the medicinal benefits of medical cannabis and evidence-based alternative medicines.
