The potential of cannabis as a cancer treatment is becoming more clear, with over 20 completed clinical trials and more underway. However, more rigorous scientific research is needed to confirm whether cannabinoids work and what doses are safe to use.
Currently, there are several approved drugs from cannabis that are used to help control severe pain from chemotherapy and neuropathic pain from cancer. These include dronabinol and nabilone.
Research
The potential of cannabis as a cancer treatment has been the focus of many researchers. Some of the research done so far includes laboratory and animal studies, which are used to see if a substance is likely to be helpful in treating a particular disease or a specific symptom.
These types of studies also help to determine if the drug or treatment can be safely administered in humans. There are few randomized controlled trials examining the effects of cannabinoids in treating cancer pain and few studies on other symptoms.
Despite these limitations, some people have reported positive results when using medical marijuana for cancer-related symptoms such as pain, nausea, and loss of appetite. Some people have also reported better outcomes when using marijuana in combination with other medications, such as opioids.
For example, some patients with chronic pain have been able to use vaporized Cannabis with opioids to get better pain relief. Vaporizers heat the plant to temperatures that release its active ingredients without burning them and minimize the toxins associated with smoking.
Other research on cannabis has shown that it can treat nerve damage, or neuropathy, a common side effect of some cancer treatments. Some people have been able to use a variety of different cannabinoids for this purpose.
Some people with cancer have also reported using cannabis for insomnia, anxiety, and stress. This research suggests that cannabis may be useful for treating these conditions, though more studies are needed.
The most common reason people use cannabis is to help them sleep. This is because THC can help to improve sleep quality by reducing anxiety and stress, and by calming the body and mind.
Besides sleeping, THC can also be helpful in relieving nausea and vomiting, especially when other medications do not work well for these symptoms. Several randomized clinical trials have found that THC and a combination of CBD and THC can be used to treat these symptoms, although more research is needed.
During cancer treatment, it is important to discuss with your health care team whether or not you are interested in using medicinal cannabis. This will help your doctor and pharmacist to decide if the medicine is safe for you and to guide you through the process.
Preliminary Results
Cannabis is often used to help patients deal with the symptoms and side effects of cancer therapy. There are some preliminary results that show that it can help with neuropathic pain and nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.
Using medical Cannabis to treat cancer-related symptoms is an increasingly popular option among cancer patients, but long-term studies are needed to determine whether it is effective and safe. This article describes research that is currently underway to find out if medical Cannabis can improve the quality of life for cancer patients and help them to manage their symptoms better.
In addition, a growing number of studies show that incorporating cannabis into a treatment plan can improve a patient’s coping skills, making the experience of cancer therapy easier to handle. It also reduces the need for opioids (a type of medication that can cause addiction) for pain management.
Preliminary results from one study showed that combining nivolumab, an immunotherapy drug, with cannabis reduced the risk of disease progression and decreased the number of tumors in some patients. However, additional studies are needed to determine whether nivolumab can be safely combined with Cannabis for this purpose.
Another study evaluated the effectiveness of a Cannabis extract given as a mouth spray in combination with temozolomide chemotherapy in recurrent glioblastoma multiforme patients. It found that a Cannabis extract with a 1:1 ratio of THC and CBD helped relieve some symptoms of glioblastoma.
There are two cannabinoid drugs, dronabinol and nabilone, that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat nausea and vomiting caused by cancer therapy. These drugs can help relieve symptoms and reduce the risk of serious complications such as death from chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
These drugs work by interacting with cannabinoid receptors in the brain and other parts of the body. They can also increase the production of a chemical messenger called dopamine, which can help people feel better. Some people who have Parkinson’s disease find that a synthetic form of dopamine (dronabinol) can help them with this condition. Other people who have epilepsy may be able to use a drug called nabilone to help with this condition.
Safety
The potential of cannabis as a cancer treatment has been well documented in preclinical studies. It’s not a miracle cure, but there is some evidence that it could help reduce the symptoms of cancer and increase the quality of life for patients.
The most common ways to take cannabis is through smoking or vaporization, which involves heating and inhaling a vaporized oil extracted from the plant. Vaporization is much safer than smoking, because you’re inhaling fewer carcinogens than when the plant is burned.
People are also turning to cannabis to treat side effects from their cancer treatments, such as nausea and pain. In large studies, 36% of people with cancer who used medical cannabis did not need as much opioid medication for their symptoms.
However, it is important to note that while these side effects are generally mild and short-lived, they may still be a risk for some patients. That’s why it’s important to talk with your doctor before using cannabis for these reasons.
Despite the promising results, it’s also important to remember that cannabis has not yet been approved by the FDA for any medical use, and that it can be illegal to possess or distribute in the U.S. As such, if you choose to use cannabis as a form of cancer treatment, be sure that it’s legally available in your area.
It’s essential to only use products that have been tested and are labeled properly. High-quality products have labels that mention good manufacturing practices (GMP) and that are clear about the composition and dosage of the product.
There are a number of different forms of cannabis that can be taken by mouth or inhaled, so it’s important to choose the right one for you. It’s best to talk with your doctor about which form of cannabis is the most effective for you.
While a lot of people turn to cannabis for reducing their cancer symptoms, it’s not always a safe option. Some people can develop addictions to marijuana and it’s important to talk with your health care provider about how to stop or reduce your dose of cannabis if you are already using it as part of your treatment plan.
Side Effects
Symptom management is one of the most common uses for medical cannabis today, in part due to research that has shown it can successfully improve nausea and neuropathic pain in some cancer patients. But it’s also important to understand that cannabis has some side effects, too, and doctors must weigh these against the benefits it can provide.
For example, some studies show that medical cannabis may reduce the need for opioids. This is because patients who use cannabis often find they no longer need as much opioids to manage their pain, reducing the risk of addiction and other negative side effects.
There is more research to be done on this topic, but it’s clear that cannabis can help people cope with the side effects of their cancer treatment and other symptoms. In fact, more than 25-40% of cancer patients are using some form of cannabis to manage their symptoms.
Some studies suggest that certain compounds in marijuana can slow the growth of cancer cells or make them easier to kill. Other studies have found that THC can help people with cancer feel less pain and more relaxed.
CBD is another compound that can be found in marijuana that doesn’t have the same psychoactive effect as THC. It can help relieve nausea, improve sleep and decrease appetite loss.
Many people who are considering incorporating medical cannabis into their cancer care want to know what potential side effects are associated with it. This can include whether it’s safe for a specific medical condition or whether it can cause unwanted side effects such as a high.
To help patients decide whether cannabis is the right choice for them, their doctor will consider a number of factors, including their preferences and values, any laws or regulations that apply, and the research available. They may also recommend other treatments, such as a targeted medication or immunotherapy.
For instance, a study found that patients with lung cancer who used medical cannabis as part of their treatment tended to need less opioids than those who didn’t. In fact, a randomized trial found that adding medical cannabis to patients who were on opioids early in their treatment reduced the need for them later in their treatment.
