Medical Marijuana and Chemotherapy
What Is Chemotherapy?
Treatment of disease by means of chemical substances or drugs; usually used in reference to neoplastic disease. The list of side effects is vast, but the most common include nausea and vomiting; hair loss; fatigue; increased chance of bruising and bleeding; anemia; infection; intestinal problems; appetite and weight changes; sore mouth, gums, and throat; nerve and muscle problems; dry and/or discolored skin; kidney and bladder irritation; and sexuality and fertility issues due to effects on reproductive organs.
Medical Marijuana and Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy (also called chemo) is a common type of cancer treatment that uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. This treatment method can ease cancer symptoms, control cancer and even cure cancer. However, it also comes with harsh and often unbearable side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, a lack of desire to eat (anorexia), and a wasting condition called cachexia, in which patients lose a significant portion of their body weight.
In an attempt to reduce nausea and increase appetite, chemo patients are often prescribed drugs called antiemetics. Unfortunately these medications don’t work for all patients. But THC and other cannabinoids found in marijuana are a natural and effective alternative to relive the symptoms and side effects of chemotherapy and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in cancer patients.
Countless studies have shown that marijuana is effective for chemotherapy patients. For example, the Office of National Drug Control Policy commissioned the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to assess the potential risks and health benefits of marijuana, and the IOM reported that the cannabinoids found in cannabis work to relieve pain, control nausea and vomiting, and stimulate appetite.
Medical Marijuana is an affordable, natural alternative that has helped thousands of cancer patients just like you prevent nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and pain associated with chemotherapy. If you are planning on or currently undergoing chemotherapy and would like to find out if medical marijuana is the right treatment for you, book an appointment with a local, qualified physician today.
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This information is not provided by medical professionals and is intended only to complement, and not to replace or contradict, any health or medical advice or information provided by healthcare professionals. If you have any questions, please contact your doctor or other healthcare professional.