The renewed interest in the therapeutic effects of cannabis emanates from the movement that began 20 years ago to make cannabis available as a medicine to patients with a variety of conditions. It was in 1996 that Arizona and California first passed medicinal cannabis legislation, although Arizona later rescinded the approval, so it would be California that paved the way. At the time that this report was written, in 2016, 28 states and the District of Columbia had legalized the medical use of cannabis; 8 states had legalized both medical and recreational use of cannabis; and another 16 states had allowed limited access to low-THC/high-CBD products (i.e., products with low levels of THC and high levels of CBD) (NCSL, 2016). A recent national survey showed that among current adult users, 10.5 percent reported using cannabis solely for medical purposes, and 46.6 percent reported a mixed medical/recreational use (Schauer et al., 2016). Of the states that allow for some access to cannabis compounds, cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, seizures/epilepsy, and pain are among the most recognized qualifying ailments (Belendiuk et al., 2015; NCSL, 2016). There are certain states that provide more flexibility than others and that allow the use of medical cannabis for the treatment of any illness for which the drug provides relief for the individual. Given the steady liberalization of cannabis laws, the numbers of these states are likely to increase and therefore support the efforts to clarify the potential therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis on various health outcomes.
The potential medicinal properties of marijuana and its components have been the subject of research and heated debate for decades. THC itself has proven medical benefits in particular formulations. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved THC-based medications, dronabinol (Marinol) and nabilone (Cesamet), prescribed in pill form for the treatment of nausea in patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy and to stimulate appetite in patients with wasting syndrome due to AIDS.
Cancer And CBD OIL - Understanding The Benefits Of Cannabisl
I think it is the antidotal nature of the reports and the general lack of documentation that raises my suspicions on the credibility of the stories. Since being involved in this area over the past four years, we have been unable to substantiate a single case of cannabis curing or even substantially impact on the course of a cancer diagnosis. There have been many cases that sound promising, and we have wanted to do case reports on his individuals. However, as we dug into the stories and saw some documented evidence it never panned out. The most common outcomes were the cancer patients continue to do the standard of care treatment, together with cannabinoids, and their outcome was what one would expect. In these cases, the patient believed it was the cannabinoids and not the standard of care that was responsible for the improvement [even in the face of well-documented evidence that their conventional treatment was expected to give them the result they wanted]. The other situation we have seen has been patients who think they still have cancer after their standard of care treatment and that the cannabinoid therapy cured them of the remaining disease. However, in these cases, there was no evidence of disease following standard care treatment. I am a fan of cannabinoids and think we are just scratching the surface of its medical benefits [i.e. it has only been approved for very few things so far], but stories that tout miracle-like cures muddy the water, create false hope and is consistently used against those who want to take an evidence-based approach, making our jobs more difficult, not easier.
The rapidly increasing availability of cannabis and cannabinoid products, their delivery methods, and the dearth of information available on their harms and benefits during treatment, call for a rapid infusion of multiple studies addressing cannabis and cannabinoid use among cancer patients.
Researchers conducted a study on cannabis use among breast cancer patients to help healthcare providers have meaningful discussions on the subject with their patients. The researchers then presented their results in the context of what is currently known about the risk and benefits of cannabis.
Among breast cancer patients, there is a strong interest in medical marijuana: almost half of the participants reported using it. Many believe that cannabis may have anticancer benefits (despite a lack of research data supporting this idea) and few talked to their healthcare providers about this. Participants reported using a range of cannabis products, which may vary in quality and purity. Most felt that cannabis products were safe. Most were also unaware of the risk of possible contaminants, potential interactions with other drugs or the possibility for products to be mislabeled.
The use of medical marijuana may involve one or both of these cannabinoids and may be given in pill, cream or other forms. Research into the uses of medical marijuana is ongoing, although the labeling of marijuana as an illegal drug has greatly limited its research possibilities. There are currently 3 FDA-approved cannabinoid medications available in the U.S. Two of them have been specifically indicated for use in cancer patients. More studies are needed to fully understand their potential benefits to improve symptoms and quality of life for individuals living with cancer. Our knowledge will continue to change.
They have a wide range of applications and effects depending on their use. Understanding common terms, how THC oils work and the different types of oils available will give you a good understanding of their benefits and which oils could work for you.
A cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event. From the confusion of understanding the road ahead to the hectic schedule of treatment protocols and never-ending appointments, many individuals struggle through treatment and beyond.
Anxiety: A cancer diagnosis can bring feelings of uncertainty and tension within the mind and soul. From second-guessing to understanding larger questions around the disease, many patients can experience anxiety and depression. According to Harvard Health, CBD is commonly used to address anxiety. In a 2015 study and analysis, researchers found that CBD oil offered promising treatment for individuals with various anxiety disorders.
Pain: Men and women experiencing cancer treatment often experience pain at injection sites as well as pain after surgery. In a piece for Doximity, Dr. Johnathan Kaplan shared that Marijuana and CBD offered a myriad of after-surgery benefits, including stopping eliminating opioid addiction, increasing appetite, and decreasing pain and side effects such as constipation.
In conclusion, we know more than ever through scientific research what cannabis and its cannabinoid compounds can do, and with more research it is possible we might be able to establish therapeutic indications for cannabinoids for certain types of cancer. Please attend the upcoming webinar by Dr. Donald Abrams to see in more depth the clinical research that has helped de-stigmatize cannabis by documenting its benefits in improving the quality of life of patients dealing with cancer and cancer treatment-related symptoms. You will at least walk away with a greater appreciation for the role of research in helping individuals make more informed decisions for their health. If you read this blog too late or are unable to attend, Dr. Abrams has published several excellent articles that are listed at the end of the references below. As legalization of medical marijuana shifts across North America, more research will continue to reveal how we can best utilize cannabis or its isolates/derivatives for medical purposes, and likewise assure a future of less treatment side effects, better quality of life, and better cure probabilities.
Now, as scientific research into the two types of cannabinoid receptors has progressed, understanding how cannabinoids interact with prostate cancer cells opens the possibility of using these compounds to restrict the activity, including the growth and spread, of prostate cancer itself.
Before considering the use of medical cannabis in palliative care, good clinical judgment should always determine if the timing and the indications for introducing this treatment are appropriate. For instance, it is essential to determine if there will be sufficient time to assess the potential therapeutic benefits of the cannabinoid treatment. Furthermore, in the terminal stages of cancer, delirium is a common finding and this could be exacerbated by the use of CBM.
Systematic reviews regarding the benefits of CBM for the management of pain reveal mixed recommendations (7-10). A recent review which aimed to assess the efficacy of CBM for relieving pain in patients with malignant disease demonstrated a significant analgesic effect in 15 of 18 trials as compared to placebo (11). However, a recent review from the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) recommended against the use of CBM as first or second line treatment to palliate cancer pain (strong recommendation) (12). According to the CFPC, clinicians could consider CBM for refractory cancer pain only after the following considerations have been met:
Furthermore, if CBM were to be considered, we call into question as to whether the recommended CBM Nabilone and Nabiximols should be used as first line agents. Nabilone is a synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) analogue in oral form that is 10 times more potent than natural THC. It is approved for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and has been used off label for pain (14-16). Since it is often reimbursed by public and private insurance plans (at least in Canada), an initial trial with this product could reasonably be considered. However, this is not necessarily the case with Nabiximols, a whole plant extract from Cannabis sativa in the form of an oromucosal spray with a 1:1 ratio of THC and cannabidiol (CBD). In Canada, it is listed for the management of cancer pain, neuropathic pain and spasticity in multiple sclerosis (17,18). Although the purity and potency of unregulated cannabis products may often be unreliable or inaccurately labeled when compared with Nabiximols, Canadian law requires that medical cannabis provided by Licensed Producers must comply with many of the same standards expected from the pharmaceutical industry. Consequently, many available products from Licensed Producers exhibit a potency of the active cannabinoid compounds THC and CBD that are similar to Nabiximols. Since these are the two most abundant cannabinoids found in cannabis, and in all likelihood responsible for most of the primary therapeutic benefits, it may be surmised that dose-equivalent effects should be expected when using similar administration routes. Furthermore, since Nabiximols is seldom reimbursed and can often exceed the cost of a similar medical cannabis oil product by 80% or more, it is unclear why clinicians should impose this financial burden on their patients. 2ff7e9595c
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