Is Cannabis Safe for Cancer Patients?

Cancer treatment is one of the most onerous things a person can go through.  No matter what type, it’s bound to be difficult for anyone.  It can lead patients to try to find ways to manage their symptoms in “untraditional” ways.

Of course, these days, the concept of cannabis being used for medical reasons is far from radical.  There have been many studies and papers written on the topic, as you can see here: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/14/20/5142.  It’s even a plot point in a lot of television shows, injected for some sort of drama.

With that said, it can make us wonder whether or not it’s useful for cancer patients.  Is it even safe?  The answer to that question will probably depend on the type of cannabis you want to use.  Smoking marijuana, for instance, may not be great for a patient with lung cancer.

Aside from that, though, there are plenty of instances where it’s perfectly safe.  It can even be used to alleviate symptoms like pain and anxiety.  If you want to learn more about that, keep reading!  We’ll be covering how it works.

What is “Cannabis,” Anyway?

First thing’s first, let’s examine what we mean by “cannabis.”  It’s a plant belonging to the Cannabaceae family.  Mostly, it’s known for its psychoactive properties, as well as its various medicinal and industrial uses.

Today, we’re focusing on the medicinal purposes, of course.  Cannabis contains numerous compounds known as cannabinoids.  The most notable one is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).  That’s the one responsible for the psychoactive effects.

However, when it comes to the question of can cannabis help during cancer treatment, the primary compound to be aware of is cannabidiol (CBD).  CBD is often sought for its potential therapeutic benefits without causing intoxication. 

Cannabis During Cancer Treatment

These days, medical cannabis is often used during cancer treatment.  It’s primarily to help manage various symptoms and side effects associated with both the disease and its treatment.  How does it work, though?

Pain Management

As you may have guessed, this is the main reason patients end up using medical cannabis or cannabinoids.  Cancer and its treatments (such as chemotherapy and radiation) can cause significant pain.  Cannabinoids found in cannabis, particularly THC, have analgesic properties.

That means it may help to relieve pain.  In terms of details, it’s because it ends up interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system.  Gummies, CBD oils, and the like are often options to use.  All of them are safe to use for patients.

Nausea and Vomiting Relief

Chemotherapy can often lead to severe nausea and vomiting.  Again, this is symptom that can potentially be helped by using medical cannabis.  It can even stimulate appetite for some patients!

Synthetic cannabinoids like dronabinol (Marinol) and nabilone (Cesamet) are sometimes prescribed for this purpose.  You can always ask your doctors if you aren’t sure what might help with this.

Anxiety and Depression Management

Out of all the reasons for utilizing these types of medicines, this is one that can be general—not just for cancer patients.  Still, it’s something worth keeping in mind during chemotherapy or other difficult treatment regimens.

After all, a cancer diagnosis can lead to significant emotional distress.  Anxiety and depression are commonly developed in these scenarios.  Cannabis, particularly strains high in CBD, may provide some patients relief.

That means it could improve their overall mood.  Relieving those anxiety symptoms in particular can be quite beneficial in many circumstances.  You can read about it on this page. 

Sleep Aid

Many cancer patients experience sleep disturbances.  Whether it’s due to pain, anxiety, or other symptoms, it can be hard to manage.  You can probably see where this is going.

Seeing as medical cannabis can help to alleviate those types of symptoms, it can also be considered a sleep aid.  It may help improve sleep quality and duration.

Considerations

Now that we’ve explored some of the ways it can help during cancer treatment, you may be wondering what some downsides are. Thankfully, there aren’t many.

If you’re using marijuana that contains THC, legality may be in question.  However, utilizing CBD oils or other products is legal in the United States.  There are no psychoactive effects from those sorts of things, after all.

The other thing to keep in mind is that you should consult your doctors.  Discuss your options with your healthcare providers.  It may have negative interactions with certain medications.  This is rare, but still, it’s always worth double checking.

The right dosage and method of consumption can vary across individuals.  Smoking, vaporizing, edibles, and oils are all potential options.  Again, with CBD products, you’re likely to find them in edible or oil formats.  Overall, that actually reduces the risks in many ways.

Overall, medical cannabis can be a valuable addition to treatment for many cancer patients.