Medical Marijuana

Sharon, I am from the west coast and have access to medical marijuana through Health Canada.  I ended radiation three weeks ago.  I feel 100% better using marijuana right now.  It helps me cope with post-treatment depression and anxiety.  It also assists me to put things into perspective by focusing my mind and it gives me the energy "high" to make it through a day filled with all the stuff I used to take for granted. Bottom line, though:  everyone's experience with marijuana is different.  It is a very personal choice that deserves more respect than society allows.

May I also tout the miraculous results I've had on my radiated breast with St. John's Wort oil?  I am seeing my plastic surgeon a week tomorrow for my last breast expansion before implant and my skin is already good to go! 

I started smoking marijuana during chemo (I don't like the pill or brownies - I find it harder to control the effect for some reason).  My oncologist was very encouraging because he has lots of patients who have apparently benefited from the drug.  I didn't even take the anti-nauseants he prescribed and I was able to keep my appetite up and be a productive human being (they threw everything in the box at me).  I continued smoking during radiation because it helped me with the anxiety of daily and twice-daily treatments (28 in all!) and I felt it kept my energy up during the day.  I have continued to smoke it because I find the post-treatment depression and anxiety to be very debilitating and it just makes me feel a whole lot better right now. 

Personally, I haven't noticed it to help my bone pain.  I also can't remember my dreams at night if I've smoked during the day but, to me right now, that is a good thing.  My dreams have been pretty disturbing at times!

Mandalala - Don't worry about posting here!!  As I have told many of my friends when they start talking about problems they're having and then stop themselves because, as they say "I've had so much more to deal with" ...

We all have our crap!  Your crap is no less important than mine!!

I had not heard that marijuana could block estrogen.  Interesting ... I still don't think I'd give up on the Tamoxifen.  How long have you been taking it?  What kind of side effects are you having?  

Hi Everyone,

I am just checking in and to give a status report on my journey with pain and lymphedema.

I managed to reduce the Tramadol by 75%. Took my records to the mmj doctor and can purchase or obtain medical mj. Have tried several ways of injesting w/out smoking. Glycerin drops go under the tongue and work well. Also tried ginger cookies--really like those the best as spicy and don't get alot of the mj taste which I don't like. Finding the right dose for eating mmj products is on a trial basis. Takes longer time to feel effects.

Saw kidney doc and asked about mmj in relation to kidneys. Her comment was "there haven't been any published studies as mmj is federally illegal. Got the feeling that whatever worked for me and got me off those other three pain meds would be a positive for my kidneys & liver.

Am getting a pound of butter with mmj in it. Will keep in freezer and can make my own cookies and use on veggies or when cooking other items.

I feel so much better now, and don't get as anxious about the pain level as with the mmj it is at 0 most of the time. Pain level gets worse if I lift too much or strain my arm. Have to take a break every 1/2 hour when sewing and quilting and lifting grandkids!

Received referral to palliative care doc, so waiting for appt. Hoping to exchange 4 pain meds for 1.

Was told that Neurontin (Gabapentin) has no effect on kidney or liver. I will continue to use that.

That's the latest from me.

Pomegranate 

My experience:

Had debilitating headaches during A/C chemo. Took advil - no effect. Took tylenol - no effect. Took Hydrocodone - no effect (except more nausea). Took Oxycodone - no effect. Took a few tokes of MJ - headache GONE. I wish now that I had read this thread during Taxol, as I had terrible leg cramps and it didn't occur to me that MJ might have helped. I know the original question was post-treatment, but hopefully this post will reach someone suffering from chemo-induced headaches, so I hope you don't mind my adding it here.

Good luck, ladies, and thanks for all the info here. (Off to see if MJ helps ease the pain of post Tx radiation burns...will report back soon...)

Blue Cowgirl – great that it helps you! Waiting for your reports on the effect on radiation burns ... I'm starting radiation Monday, and would like to know. I was told at the hospital that smoking would reduce the effect of radiation, but maybe it's only tobacco. Couldn't ask, as mmj is nowhere near legal around here.

Has anyone here tried making it into an oil and making caps?

Thanks for the link to that and for the ones you supplied, Mandalala!

PupFoster and Sharon, not to be aiding and abetting or anything, but...Do you have any trustworthy young relatives? Surely they would understand and be supportive considering your diagnosis, and I bet pretty much everyone under the age of 30 has a connection or a friend who has one...When I was much younger and my ex-husband's father had cancer, he asked us for a connection and it was nice to be able to do something for him that was truly helpful.

I think I said earler, when I was diagnosed, I hadn't smoked in ages, and all of a sudden, people were coming out of the woodwork like mad, asking if I needed a hookup. Even my 60-something-yo uncle, which was totally crazy! 

Pupfoster, my guess is that you would be surprised by who you know who might be quietly partaking in general.  When I lost 20% of my body weight during chemo, friends were crawling out of the woodwork (what a slip - first I typed "weedwork').  I'm in my 40's myself but I work with a large group of women over 50, and I had even 70 year olds offering to assist me.  

If you just start sighing that you vaguely wished you could try it, somebody could take that as an open door.  Would have been easier here because it's legal, but the people who were suggesting it sure aren't in the program.   

Maryland's a small state, do any of your neighboring states have programs? 

I was prescribed the synthetic pills and "encouraged" to get some MJ from friends LOL  I find it helped me tremendously during chemo and with my post treatment pain.  I used it mainly to help me sleep.  The pain is bearable during the day, put can't fall asleep or get comfortable because of my rib cage pain.  MJ makes me very tired and helps with the pain, but only for an hour or 2.  I hate taking pills.  I prefer ingesting natural remedies I have some great recipe ideas, PM me if interested!

Yazmin,
Medical MJ appears to be legal in Washington DC:

http://norml.org/legal/item/district-of-columbia-medical-marijuana

I heard someon sayin that they lost the battle in NJ...does anyone have any info?

I read the article...thanks.i know that area...they will fight till they have no fight left.

i still cannot understand WHY???