Cancer is a sad reality that many people have to deal with. It is estimated that over 1.6 million people were diagnosed with cancer in 2016 alone.
Roughly 40% of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their lives based off of data from 2010-2012.
Cancer not only affects those that are afflicted with the condition, it can also take a toll on friends and family.
My stepdad has been battling cancer for the second time in his life, and it has been very disheartening to see what he has had to endure.
Like many Americans, my stepdad turned to conventional treatments, but he also used cannabis oil too. I am happy to say that as of his last checkup, his levels have gone exponentially down, and he appears to be in remission.
Personal testimonies
My stepdad is not a doctor, and neither am I, so what effect cannabis oil had on his cancer levels plummeting is tough to say.
He was very upfront about using cannabis oil with his doctor, and after being given 1 to 5 years to live, his doctor said by all means give cannabis a try when my stepdad asked about it.
His doctor wouldn’t go as far as saying that it was the cannabis oil that provided the most benefit out of his treatment regimen, but he did state that such a dramatic turnaround is something he has never seen before.
Stories like my stepdad’s are very inspirational, and thankfully not rare. Stories about cannabis effectively treating cancer are abundant online, each possessing varying degrees of merit.
Making the claim that cannabis has the power to effectively treat, or even cure, cancer is a very serious thing that should not be made lightly. Obviously many people make the claim, but what does science say?
A recent groundbreaking study proves what many have been saying
A study was conducted by University of St George’s London which looked at how cannabis use and chemotherapy interacted.
The study compared groups of patients that used a combination of existing chemotherapy treatments and cannabis to a group of patients that used chemotherapy alone.
The results of the study are nothing short of astounding. Researchers found out that not only did cannabis help, but the order in which the treatments were administered made a big difference.
Per the researcher that led the study, Dr Wai Liu:
“We have shown for the first time that the order in which cannabinoids and chemotherapy are used is crucial in determining the overall effectiveness of this treatment.
“These extracts are highly concentrated and purified, so smoking marijuana will not have a similar effect. But cannabinoids are a very exciting prospect in oncology, and studies such as ours serve to establish the best ways that they should be used to maximise a therapeutic effect.”
Keeping the study’s results in perspective
The results of the previously mentioned study are extremely exciting and inspiring, but they need to be taken with a grain of salt.
Just because this particular study showed these results doesn’t mean that it will always be the case for every patient 100% of the time.
I am not saying this to be a downer, and by no means am I saying that cannabis doesn’t help treat cancer, because it obviously does according to the results of the study.
The point that I am making is that the results of this study should be seen as justification to use cannabis to help treat cancer, but that patients should also consult with their doctors to see what will be the best strategy, as everyone’s situation is different.
Talking to someone that is suffering from cancer, about cannabis or any other treatment, is not an easy thing to do. If you feel that it is appropriate, consider sharing the results of this recent study with those that are looking for more information about cancer and cannabis.
