Medicinal Marajuana

If I needed it, I wouldn't hesitate to get a consult and get on the registry. I nearly went that route for some recent pain and sleepless issues I was having, but got it cleared up conventionally. There's a medical marijuana shop on every corner here in town, it seems. I'm not sure how I'd go about finding the most reputable, stable operation, though.

I say go for it, Marilee. If I have to do chemo, I'd be right there without concern.

Hang in there. I know you're on a bumpy road right now.

Hello ladies,

I find real relief in marijuana. I did FEC x 4 to begin with, and a week before the second treatment I tried smoking. I was so shocked by the first round of chemo that I figured I would do almost anything. At the fourth night of sleep deprivation, I made a decision. I'm currently on Taxotere.

During FEC, I found it helped me to...

-enjoy food or atleast get enough appetite to nourish my body. I don't know how many lbs I would have lost without this, four months post diagnosis I have lost only 8. 

-get rid of not only chemo-induced nausea, but also queezyness caused by stress and anxiety.

-sleeeeeeeeeep!!

-think about something else, and laugh! 

On Taxo, I find it helps me to:

-relax my muscles and get painrelief (bone and joint pain, especially in feet and hands).

-eat (my mouth is sore and have almost no tastebuds left).

-do yoga sessions voluntarily and actually getting somewhere! It loosens up my body and mind.

-sleep 

-manage my mood swings. I know this may sound odd, as abuse of THC (especially hasch -which I wouldn't touch) can cause mood swings, but I believe that if you are a balanced person, with no major anxiety issues (besides living with and fighting cancer...) it's all good.

Before trying this as a complementary 'treatment', I of course thought 'What if I get more anxious?' But I tried, as I was hitting rock bottom, and I have absolutely no regrets. I know smoking is not good for you (I quit tobacco a year and a half ago), but the help I get overweighs the pressure I put on my lungs. And one or two a day I believe is ok. I try not to smoke everyday.

I asked my medical team & acupuncturer what they thought about this approach, and my oncologue told me he wouldn't prescribe any (he was joking, as it is still illegal here), but if I felt better it was ok. My acupuncturer told me to watch my liver, but that smoking was better for the liver than eating it. I have never experienced the effects of eating it (like in cakes, tea and such), but personally I believe smoking is easier to handle, you know when it 'kicks in' and it is almost instant. 

I want to go easy on my liver, and taking more medicine is not really an option for me. Although I do, atleast during chemo week. Marijuana isn't the answer to every SE, but it helps me with a lot of them.

Bon courage!!

My neurologist signed the form for me to register - my former Onc declined to participate.  I'm keeping the form in reserve in case I need it.