Medical Cannabis

Bcky

I just received my cannabis license last month through the cancer hospital. I am using cannabis to relieve joint and bone pain (SE from Tamoxifen). Are there any other ladies here using cannabis? What has been your experience? I have been using CBD oil since dx in 2014. It has helped a bit. I would like this thread to be about your experience and feelings about it ,as well as, it's effectiveness. When do you use it? How much? What THC strain and percentage do you like?

JoE777

thanx for the thread

Bcky

Your welcome JOE777

NoteRed

hello, I 've asked about using CBD oil and docs told me that decreases the effect of tamoxifen. is that true?

leftduetostupidmods

There is no evidence to show that CBD interacts with anything. John Hopkins has a "question board" on alternative treatment and this question has been asked there, as well as a question about CBD and aromatase inhibitors . Their answer was "not enough evidence" . Ask your doctor to point you to the medical study showing this. To me it sounds like pill-pusher hogwash.

Anonymous

I am interested in this subject, not for myself (at least not at this time - it's illegal in the state where I live) but for my sister who has breast cancer (triple negative) and starts chemo next week. She's already had two surgerys in her right breast and needs a third after chemo. Then she starts radiation.

She lives in a state where both medical and recreational marijuana is legal. What are some of the benefits of CBD? I've heard everything that it's a cure for cancer to 'it helps a little."

If you have a link to a well-researched article, or can share some of your experiences, I'd appreciate it.

JoE777

I'm hoping the ladies on the thread can share links and info that they've been able to gather, especially those in legal states and countries My concern is the cost since it's cheaper to get hydocodone and antidepressants than brownies or oil. Sad that so much money for research is withheld from doctors and research in what could prove to help many conditions.

Meow13

Why does it have to be so expensive? Not sure why cdb has to be taxed as a sin tax?

LoveFromPhilly

I have a medical marijuana card and have been using the some of the products. Here are my thoughts:

1) Dream tincture to help with pain and sleep. It’s 8:1 THC to CBD and also has some other sleep aids in it apparently. It is of the indica strain. I used it for a couple of months and honestly finally got to the point where I dreaded the taste of it. The taste is not awful - sort of taste like orange creamsicle but I just started to gag a little at night at the thought of taking it so I stopped. I did not notice any difference in SE with or without it.

2) I have an oil for vaporizing. It is 2:1 CBD to THC and is a sativa strain (apparently more uplifting). This is supposed to be for daytime. I rarely use it. I haven’t noticed any difference.

3) I have a mostly indica strain oil for vaporizing that is supposed to be the least anxiety-producing. I think it may be called AC/DC. I feel relaxed when I use it before bedtime and I usually fall asleep pretty quickly once I have taken a couple hits of the vape pen.

4) I am trying in my clinic a CBD sports massage cream that is super potent. I just got it today. Will report back the results. So far on myself it feels quite nice and smells good, slightly medicinal

That’s about it for me! Hope this info is helpful

exbrnxgrl

I live in a state that is legal medically and recreationally. Although I have read articles regarding cannabis and cancer, a lot is anecdotal. As a result, I have had to do a lot of experimenting. I do not use it in the hopes of a cure but simply for symptom relief.

- Topicals did nothing for me.

- For me CBD provides better symptom relief when there is THC in the product. I find that a 1:1 or 2:1 formulation works best for me for pain relief. Products with this ratio will get you high, so for me, this is night time only. I should add that I have a high tolerance so if this gets me high, those who are unaccustomed to THC would probably want to start with a higher CBD:THC ratio.

- I have used edibles, capsules, beverages, vape pens and just good old fashioned doobies. Vaping and smoking deliver effects very quickly. Ingesting cannabis can take at least an hour or more before you feel effects.

- As a previous poster noted sativa strains are said to be energizing, indica strains more sedating. Consume enough and you won’t know the difference! There are also many hybrid strains available. Within the overarching categories of sativa and indica, there are a huge number of strains. I continue to experiment with these.

- As to the expense and why CBD, a non-psychoactive component of cannabis, is high priced, I think a couple of things factor into it. It is all illegal federally as a schedule I drug like heroin and cocaine. Little research gets done because of this and cannabis business owners (even in legal states) face many challenges connected to the financial aspects of the business. IMO, as it becomes legal in more states and production ramps up, I think prices will come down. In my state , CA, tax on cannabis is 34%, so it at least the state treasury is happy.

Watching this industry bloom (pun intended!) is fascinating, particularly marketing.

LoveFromPhilly

agreed completely exbrnxgrl!!!

exbrnxgrl

I should add that the 34%tax in CA is for recreational purchases. If you have a medical card, the tax is about 9% less

goldie0827

JUST SHARING, AND NOT INTENDED TO CAUSE CONFLICT WITH ANYONE.

I belong to a FB group, "Fighting Breast Cancer with Cannabis"

https://www.facebook.com/groups/158067737931960/

There are lots of members, and 1 or 2 oncology nurses. They take what everyone posts, and do their own studies. They are sharing that they are learning that TCH is not good for ER PR positive cancers, and it should only be used in small doses, and that it does effect Tomoxifen (sp). There is no actual research, because the government is not involved. I'm not saying this site knows everything, but they are very informal and lots of their own studies are done.

Just a brief statement from one of moderators on the site, his wife has cancer. Kristen and Elizabeth are 2 of the nurses.

"Tamoxifen is a medication known as a selective estrogen receptor modulator, or SERM. Tamoxifen often is prescribed as part of the treatment for ER+ breast cancer. Tamoxifen binds with estrogen receptors, without activating growth in breast cancer cells. In this way, tamoxifen prevents a women's own estrogen from binding with these cells. As a result, breast cancer cell growth is blocked."

I think the idea that cannabis and tamoxifen are not compatible rests on the notion that they compete for the same receptors. If cannabinoids bind, they render the tamoxifen ineffective. Kristin Wohlschlagel and Elizabeth Sherwood, is this correct?

snowday123

thanks for the link Goldie. I’ve been reading about cannabis tumor fighting ability but only lab and mouse studies

Missourimom54

https://www.healthworkscollective.com/how-does-cbd-help-with-breast-cancer/

I just found this and it mentons Triple Negative, which I have. Unfortunately, it does not link to the studies quoted, which makes me suspect.

MissouriCatLady

Thanks for the link, Goldie. I thought about trying CBD oil for neuropathy. The lady at the CBD store told me it cures cancer and i do find that hard to believe. I asked my doctor for his thoughts and he said "the literature is mixed, not sure if it works or not." I also plan on trying cryotherapy for neuropathy, I have 2 chemo treatments left. I've read somewhere similar things about ER/PR positive cancers and TCH not being good, which makes me a little nervous to try the CBD oil that has TCH. There is also one that does not have TCH, I think. It's hard to understand all the information around something you know nothing about. Thanks for this thread and best wishes to everyone.

Bcky

I certainly hope it doesn't interfere with tamoxifen. Yikes.

kber

Medical Cannabis is legal in my state and I found it helpful for nausea and sleeplessness.  I also found a high CBD content was more helpful to me specifically.  I tried various methods, and settled on a lozenge.  I'm not a smoker and vaping was uncomfortable.

I'm on new chemo drugs that don't have make me as nauseous (Taxol and Carboplatin) but do make me a lot more tired, so not sure Cannabis will be as helpful as it was when I was on AC.

Generally, my impression was that it was a helpful tool in the toolkit, but not a silver bullet.  

That said, I do very much wish there was better research available.  

exbrnxgrl

There is no scientific, research based evidence to show that CBD cures cancer. Anecdotal evidence abounds, but anecdotes are just that, anecdotes. CBD is available in many forms and can be purchased without any THC, or in various ratios. For instance, an 18:1 CBD:THC ratio . Unfortunately, as long as cannabis remains illegal on the federal level, science based research will remain sparse

DivineMrsM

With all due respect, it is such a bogus claim for someone to say CBD oil cures cancer. And if you're the one selling it, even more outrageous. It may be an effective complimentary treatment, or as was said, a good tool in the toolbox, to aid in cancer treatment side effects, but a cure? I'd have to be saying, “prove it."

Ohio now sells legal medicinal marijuana. Two dispensaries about 20 minutes from me. I don't use it, but keep informed about it. It is cash only. Is that in all states where its legal. or does insurance pay in some places? What is the cost?

DivineMrsM

Here is some Ohio MM info for comparison:

** Cash only to 2 appointments to establish a licensed-to-prescribe-medical-marijuana Dr/patient relationship

** Pay $250 to Dr for recommendation

** Pay Ohio $50 for recommendation

** State law allows a patient or caregiver to buy a 90-day supply of cannabis at a time:

8 ounces of plant material with up to 23 percent THC

(or) 5.3 ounces of cannabis with up to 35 percent THC for most conditions.

Terminal patients can purchase greater and stronger amounts.

** A "whole day unit" of plant material is 2.83 grams and sold for $50.00. Sales currently are cash only because of federal and banking regulations

kber

Hi Divine.  It's cash only in NJ and insurance does not cover it because it's still a class 1 drug, federally.

And I agree that extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence, to paraphrase Carl Sagan!

DivineMrsM

So using the figures provided in my post above, am I seeing correctly that a 90 day supply of medical marijuana is astronomical in price? Or what am I not understanding,

exbrnxgrl

Camille,

I don’t think any insurance covers medical cannabis, again, due to it being illegal on the federal level. In CA, now a medical and recreational state, many dispensaries take ATM cards and even deliver (Just like pizza!). As far as cost at point of sale, medical patients pay about 9% less than the steep recreational tax of 34%! However, since recreational became legal, the process and cost to obtain a medical card has gone up astronomically. Overall, it is fairly pricey. I spend about $200. a month. For me it’s symptom relief and I gladly spend it because I want to avoid opioids as long as possible

LoveFromPhilly

I just spent $90 for two oil cartridges at the dispensary near me. I am very sensitive to medications and do not need a lot of anything for it to be effective. I take one “puff” of the vape pen at night before bed to help me fall asleep and with aches and pains. I would say that I probably won’t need to go back for about two months at least because a little bit goes a long way for me. So for me it is quiet cost effective. I am hoping that it will help me avoid opioids for a long time - as they make me vomit sadly.

Micmel

The cost of it is staggering. Like a car payment in some instances. I just renewed my card for the first time, since it’s valid a year. I have been on a regimen the entire time. Before I was educated about the differences between strands and strengths, and received the medical Marijuana card, I was averaging three to four 5 mg percoets daily. Then a ten milligram at night. Followed by .5 mg of methadone because I have a met in my
Spine end plate. Within maybe one month, I noticed I was down to one 5mg Percocet a day and one ten mg at night for sleep. I’m doing much better with this. Than I was without it. Now I must admit that I have been an on and off smoker of it for years and years. I was diagnosed Denovo to no measurable disease after primary tumor was removed. I have been stable for two years and very active on days I’m not tired from the ibrance fatigue. I have seen a big change. I think it can help some but may not help others. Clearly it’s no cure or I would not have it. Because I was a marijuana smoker since a late teen. Not everyday and took a nine year break to have children. But. I do think some body chemistries work well with it. I wish it would work for everyone ! Goodnight ladies

DivineMrsM

Thanks for all of your insight as to the cost, why insurance does not cover it and your reasons for using it. As Ohio was specifically targetted by big pharma for opioid distribution, opioid addiction & deaths here have wreaked havoc on our communities. Perhaps MMJ will help curb some of the epidemic. I have a high sensitivity to meds and got horrible headaches from opioids prescribed for pain (after surgery), so should pain become more of an issue for me, I want to be informed.

LoveFromPhilly

in with a new report:

I tried the RSO this evening. Here’s a link if anyone wants to know more about it.

https://www.remedyyourself.com/product/rick-simpson-oil-syringe/

Fascinating story!

Anywho - I took the smallest possible amount and got very buzzed from it. Not sure I could handle this for weeks at a time.

Anyone else have experience with this?

Mariya25

I wonder you should try

Summer16

I am wondering whether I should give this to my mum we are in the uk I have accquired the pure THC oil (breast cancer three years ago which has come bk in lungs and pliers) but my mum has been sent home to die she only has a few days to live. She is on a syringe driver for palliative pain so her pain is finally under control as it hasn’t been for months but now it is. In my heart I know she hasn’t got long maybe hours maybe days but I got hold of the TCH yesterday I am scared whether to try it and it unsettles here now she is peaceful or scared we don’t try it and never know if It would be a miracle and cure disease in this very last stagea tone used I used it this late on?

Mum has deteriorated quickly since it came back hence not stating it sooner and we have only just found out about it

Thanks broken hearted

santabarbarian

If she is in pain I would leave it. The dose that is discussed for curative properties is massive- sixty grams of THC in 90 days. If she is comfy it might make her feel bad especially if she is not used to it.

I am so sorry for you facing losing your mom. I send you a hug.