Medical Cannabis Oil For Cancer How Effective Is It?

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Do you know that the UK is one of the top legal exporters of medical cannabis? This highlights the importance of cannabis in various fields, including cancer treatment. Many cancer patients are turning to medical cannabis, especially cannabis oil, for hope. Yet, the journey to understand its real benefits is challenging due to numerous hurdles, including legal ones.

There are many types of cannabis oil available, both online and in shops. The key components are THC and CBD. THC affects your brain and mood, potentially making you feel ‘high’. In contrast, CBD may help with pain, reduce inflammation, and lower stress without any ‘high’. However, buying cannabis products independently carries risks, as studies have found that CBD levels can vary significantly, and sometimes there’s more THC than expected. THC can cause dizziness, increase heart rate, or even induce paranoia. Therefore, consulting a cancer specialist before using cannabis oil is crucial to ensure it’s safe, especially when combined with other treatments².

Key Takeaways

The UK is a leading exporter of legal cannabis.
THC and CBD content in cannabis oil can influence its effectiveness.
Self-purchasing cannabis products online poses quality and composition risks.
Consult a cancer specialist before using CBD oil.
THC can cause side effects like dizziness and paranoia.

Understanding Medical Cannabis and Its Components

mood and perception. Yet, CBD offers pain relief and eases anxiety without a ‘high’. Strains vary in their THC and CBD amounts, categorised as THC dominant, CBD dominant, or balanced.

In the UK, while cannabis remains illegal for recreational use, some CBD products are legal. It’s important to distinguish between cannabis oil (which contains THC) and hemp or CBD oil (which doesn’t contain THC). Only medically-labelled cannabis is allowed for specific conditions like epilepsy and chemotherapy side effects. More research is needed to fully understand its benefits for cancer treatments.

Cannabinoids in cannabis bind to receptors in our body: CB1 receptors in the nervous system and CB2 receptors in the immune system. They influence critical functions, and about 15% of cancer survivors in the US have used cannabis post-treatment, indicating potential benefits.

Using cannabis medicinally can lead to side effects, including dizziness, feeling high, and in rare cases, severe heart or stroke issues. While modern anti-nausea drugs have improved, many chemotherapy patients still experience nausea. Cannabis might help, but more studies are needed to determine its role in cancer care^3-^4-⁵

How Medical Cannabis Oil Works

Cannabinoids and cancer therapy have been the subject of much research. They may help our body fight cancer in various ways, such as making cancer cells die, stopping their growth, and reducing inflammation. This also slows the spread of cancer, showing why cannabinoids are promising for further research in cancer treatment.

Although lab studies are promising, more work is needed to confirm their benefits in humans. Clinical trials are exploring cannabis as a therapy. A medicine called Sativex, which includes cannabis, has shown potential. In a study using Sativex and temozolomide for a type of brain cancer, more patients lived past a year compared to those who didn’t take Sativex.

Doctors may also use drugs like Nabilone, derived from cannabis, to help with cancer symptoms, particularly severe sickness during chemotherapy when other drugs fail. Early signs are positive, but more large trials are crucial to guide the use of cannabis in cancer care, ensuring it is both safe and effective².

Medical Cannabis for Cancer: Current Research and Findings

Cannabis research for cancer is yielding new insights, mostly from lab and animal tests. However, more clinical trials are needed to confirm if cannabis truly helps cancer in people.

In phase 1 trials for glioblastoma, Sativex was studied, but the results were inconclusive due to the small sample size. Notably, 83% of those using Sativex were alive after a year, compared to 44% on a placebo. Sativex also shows promise for easing cancer pain, an area of ongoing research.

Nabilone, another cannabis-derived medicine, has been studied for reducing chemotherapy-induced nausea. This underscores the need for larger, more robust research to confirm its efficacy. In 2015, a review indicated that cannabis drugs could be helpful when other medications fail.

Looking ahead, the use of cannabinoids in cancer treatment appears promising. Dexanabinol is being tested in phase 1 trials for cancer treatment. Historical studies have shown that cannabinoids can fight cancer, such as slowing breast cancer growth in a 2010 study. More recent research also suggests that non-THC cannabinoids may inhibit prostate cancer growth^2-⁶.

cannabis for cancer

Benefits of Using Medical Cannabis Oil

Medicinal cannabis and cancer research have gained significant attention in recent years. Oils with THC, such as Rick Simpson Oil (RSO), help reduce nausea, pain, and increase appetite, which is crucial for cancer patients suffering from severe treatment side effects. However, it’s essential to use these products cautiously, as there is still insufficient proof of their benefits.

Cannabinoids can alleviate symptoms caused by chemotherapy, like intense nausea. Nabilone, a cannabis-based medicine, is used when other drugs fail, showing effectiveness in controlling nausea and seizures in epilepsy patients. Medicinal cannabis is also employed to mitigate chemotherapy side effects like vomiting.

While medicinal cannabis looks promising in managing cancer symptoms, more research is needed to confirm its benefits fully. In the UK, Sativex is approved for managing muscle spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis, but its effectiveness in cancer care remains unclear.

Using cannabis and its products for medical purposes is generally safe, but side effects must be closely monitored. Ongoing research and trials are crucial to improving cancer symptom treatments with cannabis, aiming to demonstrate its effectiveness, especially when other treatments fall short².

Potential Side Effects and Risks

While exploring the benefits of cannabis, it’s also essential to be aware of its drawbacks. High-THC products can increase heart rate and alter blood pressure, potentially causing dizziness or hallucinations. If products aren’t regulated, they might not be safe or legal, so caution is necessary.

Studies have shown that nabiximols help cancer patients in pain when opioids alone aren’t sufficient, reducing pain more effectively than a placebo. However, while some cannabis-derived drugs are useful in specific cases, such as treating AIDS-related anorexia, they can have potent side effects. Weighing these risks is crucial before considering cannabis for cancer treatment.

Low doses of cannabis have been found to ease certain types of nerve pain more effectively than no treatment. However, they can also cause harm. Consulting a doctor before using cannabis alongside standard cancer treatments is vital to prevent adverse interactions and ensure safety.

Buying cannabis products online can be risky because you can’t always know what’s in them. Studies have found that CBD products sometimes contain THC, making them potentially unsafe and illegal in some places. Understanding these risks and taking them seriously can help make safer choices⁷.

cannabis for cancer

How to Use Medical Cannabis Oil Safely

Start by consulting a healthcare professional about the appropriate dosage of medical cannabis. They will advise on the best method of use, such as oral ingestion, pills, topicals, or inhalation. This guidance is crucial to ensure safety and maximise the benefits of cannabis use.

Having a prescription for cannabis oil is significant, especially since high-THC oil is illegal in the UK. If prescribed by a doctor, it’s wise to purchase from official sources to reduce the risk of fake or dangerous products. Always remember that only doctors specialising in your illness can recommend the use of cannabis oil.

If you’re considering participating in a cannabis trial, discuss it with your cancer doctor. Trials are conducted in controlled settings to ensure safety. Always inform your doctor about any new treatments you want to try to keep everything safe and aligned with your current medications⁸.

Personal Experiences and Anecdotal Evidence

Many people share stories about using cannabis oil for cancer, highlighting its benefits, especially with Rick Simpson Oil. However, these anecdotes aren’t backed by scientific evidence. A 2017 report by the National Academies reviewed the effects of cannabis, pointing out the need for more research.

In studies, cancer patients’ outcomes using cannabis vary. A 2020 survey found that 22% of cancer patients used it for medical reasons, but only a few received advice from their doctors. This underscores the importance of better communication from medical professionals about options like cannabis oil.

Rick Simpson Oil’s success stories are popular among patient circles, sharing experiences of symptom relief and improved well-being. However, these stories lack the rigorous testing provided by clinical trials. Over 2 million Americans use cannabis as medicine, highlighting its widespread use despite the need for treatments backed by strong evidence.

It’s essential to distinguish these success stories from proven treatments. A 2017 survey showed that 43% of cancer patients used cannabis, but clinical trials on its use in cancer care provide limited evidence. This gap highlights the critical need for more research to determine the effectiveness and safety of cannabis oil in cancer treatment^5–⁹.

Conclusion

The use of medical cannabis for cancer is a growing topic of discussion. Studies suggest that cannabinoids like CBD and THC might help, but more clinical trials are needed for conclusive evidence. In 2021, the US saw a significant increase in cannabis sales to $17.5 billion, showing growing acceptance. However, we’re still waiting for solid proof through research.

Around 25% of people with blood cancer and 11% with gynaecologic cancer use medical cannabis. In the US, 17% of cancer survivors use it, and 61% of those with cancer say they use cannabis for symptom management. These figures indicate the widespread use of cannabis alongside traditional cancer therapies.

While personal stories suggest hope in cannabis, we need scientific backing. The National Cancer Institute and various reviews emphasise the need for continued research on cannabinoids’ effects on cancer. There’s strong support for using cannabis to help with side effects like chemotherapy-induced nausea, but solid research is necessary to understand its full potential in cancer treatment.

If you have any experience with private medical cannabis clinics for cancer treatment in the UK, why not leave them a UK medical cannabis review at Cannabis Access Clinics? Doing so helps the whole community!