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Finding Relief: The Role Cannabis Can Play in Easing the Most Common Side Effects of Cancer Treatment
Medical marijuana can mimic the endocannabinoid system, which regulates the body and its processes. Marijuana can help block unrestricted cell growth, ease pain, build up the immune system, build appetite and help cancer patients sleep.
Medical Cannabis for Cancer Management: Of those surveyed, approximately 96% said that they obtained significant symptomatic relief, particularly with regard to sleep (78%), pain (78%), weakness (73%), nausea (65%), and lack of appetite (49%), which are some of the most common symptoms in patients with cancer.
More recently, scientists reported that THC and other cannabinoids such as CBD slow growth and/or cause death in certain types of cancer cells growing in lab dishes. Some animal studies also suggest certain cannabinoids may slow growth and reduce spread of some forms of cancer.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that medical cannabis has potential to effectively manage pain in this patient population. There is evidence suggesting that medical cannabis reduces chronic or neuropathic pain in advanced cancer patients.
THC / CBD helps relieve nausea and can calm your nervous system and digestive tract. If you feel less nauseated, you may eat more. THC also quells pain, and feeling less pain may also boost appetite. For that reason, it’s often used by people with cancer, chronic pain or other medical issues.
Cannabis and its active cannabinoids act as immune-modulating agents, affecting T-cells, B-cells, monocytes, and microglia, causing an overall reduction in proinflammatory cytokine expression and an increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines
Poor sleep is one of the most common side effects of cancer treatment. One increasingly popular approach to manage side effects of cancer treatment is use of medicinal cannabis.
Cannabis improved sleep initiation and continuity, resulted in decreased use of sleep medications, and that improved sleep led to better health.