My experiences with medical marijuana / cannabis

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  • DayLily15
    DayLily15 Member Posts: 144
    edited May 2015

    thank you Cheesequake - i too find the lack of actual research very frustrating. makes me timid to try anything.

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  • littleblueflowers
    littleblueflowers Member Posts: 2,000
    edited May 2015

    Further experience with MMJ....it is the only thing that works for both nausea and pain from chemo. Nothing else works as well, and my MO is totally in favor of it..

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2015

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  • Cheesequake
    Cheesequake Member Posts: 264
    edited May 2015

    Updated my original post with the newest info.

    boblajo's experience of having cannabis shrink her tumor is very different than my experience, where it seemed to have no effect (or possibly the tumor grew??) - so I'd say everyone may have different results. We all have so many varying factors - tumor characteristics, mmj characteristics, etc! I would love to hear more from others that may have had different results. Thanks all for your contributions!

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  • Cheesequake
    Cheesequake Member Posts: 264
    edited May 2015

    Sorry this thread is starting to generate so much spam. o_O

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  • abigail48
    abigail48 Member Posts: 1,699
    edited May 2015

    I see no spam on this thread, but the adware n my laptop makes it impossible to read any stories or buy anythin. (books from amazon for instance)

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  • boblajo
    boblajo Member Posts: 18
    edited May 2015


    cheesequake, as I said, I'm not entirely sure that it has shrunk, this is me kinda guessing and maybe hoping at the same time. But it looked a little larger on mammo, and smaller on MRI. My surgery is June 3, I will try to post the results as soon as I can. Either way, I believe that it is helping somehow, someway. I know that it's not hurting me. And it's true, everyone's experience is different, it's all about finding what works best for you. I have a friend that can't use it at all because it causes her anxiety.

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  • abigail48
    abigail48 Member Posts: 1,699
    edited May 2015
    the anxiety would probably lessen & then disappear with repeated use
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  • Cheesequake
    Cheesequake Member Posts: 264
    edited July 2015

    Just wanted to update: I'm still ingesting cannabis extract almost daily, and am VERY slowly building tolerance. I can now take about 1/8th of an inch of THC extract (from a 10g syringe) along with a bit more than 1/8th of an inch of CBD extract. Still, it is nowhere near the recommendation in the MMJ community of half a gram of each per day.

    It makes a huge difference in my overall frame of mind (I definitely notice myself getting snappy, morose and irritable when I skip a day or two) and it's invaluable for allowing me to sleep. It also still makes me hyper-sexual, with multiple extended orgasms per session. I LOVE that part the best ;)

    I am very hopeful that once chemo starts (July 17), it'll be my sole nausea medication - and especially that it'll help me maintain sex. Even if it's just average sex, that will be way better than the standard chemo result of NO sex!!

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited July 2015

    Cheese: What chemo regiment will you be taking? Be sure and go to the chemo page and look through the chemo support groups. They are the best thing ever for dealing with chemo.

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  • Cheesequake
    Cheesequake Member Posts: 264
    edited July 2015

    Thank you Trvler! I'll be doing Taxotere and Carboplatin for 6 infusions (once every three weeks) and Herceptin once every three weeks for a year, and I'm subscribed to this thread. I should read the entire thing!

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited July 2015

    Cheese: I would also suggest finding a group that starts around your same date or starting one. It was so nice to have women at the same exact point or close to it because you would read the posts of the women who were slightly ahead of you to know what to expect and when….like as an example, I knew almost to the day when my hair would come out and it was comforting that the other ladies were going through it around the same time. Then I knew next my lashes and eyebrows would come out. Those are just some examples. And because it is a pretty small number of women, it is much easier to get to know them on a more personal basis.

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  • Cheesequake
    Cheesequake Member Posts: 264
    edited July 2015

    Yep, did that too. Was subscribed to the June group, but then got a stay until July, so now I'm subbed there. Thanks Trvler! :)

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  • peggy_j
    peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
    edited July 2015

    Interesting discussion. Are there many clinical trials that show the efficacy of MMJ in fighting BC? I went on PubMed and I mostly found data that shows it helps with SEs (or studies that examine whether smoking MMJ is linked to a higher rate of lung cancer, etc). If anyone has links, I'd be curious to read them. (I live in a MMJ state).

    There was a discussion here of using U/S to track the size of a tumor. FWIW, I had a series of pelvic U/Ss when I had an ovarian cyst. The measurements aren't perfect. Body parts that don't change size were coming in with different measurements each time. When I asked my doc, she said it was just the limitation of the tool, so we didn't seize on those measurements too precisely. (mostly we hoped the cyst would go away on it's own--some do--mine did not, but it turned out be benign. yay)


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  • Cheesequake
    Cheesequake Member Posts: 264
    edited July 2015

    peggy_j, when I was first diagnosed, I collected all the academic research I could find related to cannabinoids and breast cancer. Here is the list. I'll also add it to my original post here. There are some somewhat promising bits of information, but I've since become less enamored with it as a cancer-killer - there just isn't enough concrete evidence related to which cannabinoids in what form in what amounts have what effect. This comic from xkcd, to which I became acquainted after doing lots of research on lots of alternatives, often applies:

    image

    That said, the other effects are for me very positive, so if there is any anti-cancer effect along with the other benefits, I'm already onboard.

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  • Trvler
    Trvler Member Posts: 3,159
    edited July 2015

    Love the cartoon, Cheese!

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  • karabesque
    karabesque Member Posts: 84
    edited July 2015

    Hi,

    I am a MMJ patient and have been using cannabis oil since I got diagnosed last August. I do not like being stoned so, I take my oil right before bed. That, combined with the lorazapam that I take for nausea, puts me to sleep like a baby. I sleep through my night sweats, cat fights, sunlight. In fact, I need about 12 hours for the effects of the oil to wear off. I take 12mg CBD capsules in the day. I live in a medical state (NM) and got my card the first week after dx. A friend of mine has a family member that is a grower and they donated 2 lbs of solid material and made the oil for me. I am so grateful for this gift.

    I tried the Rick Simpson protocol but even with taking the oil at night, it was too strong. So, I do what I can. My doctors were all okay with me doing alternative medicines to see if I could shrink the tumor on my own but after 3 months, I had very little results and had to have a bilateral mastectomy. Originally, that was to be the end but they found 14 of 21 nodes to be positive. So chemo was put on the menu. My PS was very interested to see how I would do with chemo since I was already using cannabis prior to chemo. All I have is my experiences but the cannabis has helped with some of the side effects, the most obvious being nausea and mood. I do have some low THC, high CBD herb that I smoke occasionally but I prefer the capsules.

    My main hope and goal is that with continued use of the oil and the CBD caps, the chances of me having to do this ever again (which I refuse to even address) will be diminished. I also stand as an advocate and also as support for any one else trying to navigate the MMJ world. As far as I know, there are few care givers with personal knowledge of this medicine and we all can use help and support. I am more than happy to help or chat about my routine.

    Good Luck and Positive Blessings to us all!


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  • mary625
    mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
    edited July 2015

    I can only imagine how helpful MMJ would be during chemo. I had to take a cocktail of the various anti-nausea pills staggered around the clock. I was able to cope with the nausea, but the effects on my central nervous system were that I was like a zombie. I did not have any appetite--no pills to help with that. I definitely would do this if I ever needed chemo in the future.

    I wish I knew how to get some cannabis oil or anything else. I'm in a non-MMJ state plus I'm not in active treatment. I'd like it for prevention, as well as libido.
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  • peggy_j
    peggy_j Member Posts: 1,700
    edited July 2015

    Cheese, great comic. Made me LOL. And thanks for the links to the studies. Looks like this is just beginning to be studied, but who knows?

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  • Cheesequake
    Cheesequake Member Posts: 264
    edited July 2015

    Just thought I'd update. I started Taxotere, Carboplatin and Herceptin on Friday.

    My side effects so far have been quite mild - a little diarrhea and a couple very short bouts of nausea (and some superficial acne, but that's a different topic!) The medical cannabis is, for me, a crucial part of dealing with chemo. As expected, it's helping with side effects - and emotional effects.

    First infusion day was an extremely stressful one for me and my husband, and cannabis after the infusions helped me better deal with that. I'm still using it nightly for sleeping. We slept separately for the first two nights so he wouldn't come in contact with any of my chemo-laden bodily fluids. It's the first time we've slept apart in years, and I can't imagine I'd have slept at all if it hadn't been for the pot.

    As far as side effects, I find it makes the stomach upset manageable. Not sure if that would still be the case if the nausea was more severe (and hoping not to have to find out!)

    And as a plus, so far it's still having a VERY positive effect on my sex drive. Granted it's only day four, but I'll be REALLY happy if THAT continues through chemo!!

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  • chocomousse
    chocomousse Member Posts: 157
    edited July 2015

    Interesting. I've read that cannabis is highly estrogenic (which isn't good for those with ER+ tumors), so much so that it can make male users less fertile.

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  • Bren-2007
    Bren-2007 Member Posts: 6,241
    edited July 2015

    Chocomousse ... that's interesting. Can you remember where you read that? I'd love to read the article. I'm in a non-MMJ state as well. I wish it was legal here, as I would like to try it for chronic pain in my shoulder, migraines, some stomach troubles and mood.

    hugs

    Bren

    PS ... Cheesequake ... glad to hear you're feeling as well as you are! And that the MMJ is helping with the side effects ... and mood and romance!

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  • abigail48
    abigail48 Member Posts: 1,699
    edited July 2015

    awayss eemed that it's strongly strongly estrogenic, the female plant esp the one with the phsycoactive properties. makes mens breasts grow. but the pollen, the male plants, keif for instance could be a different story

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  • Cheesequake
    Cheesequake Member Posts: 264
    edited July 2015

    The information about cannabis and estrogen is ambiguous.

    This page notes, "a laboratory study of cannabidiol (CBD) in estrogen receptor positive and estrogen receptor negative breast cancer cells showed that it caused cancer cell death while having little effect on normal breast cells. Studies in mouse models of metastatic breast cancer showed that cannabinoids may lessen the growth, number, and spread of tumors."

    This page says to use 4 parts THC to 1 part CBD (a 4:1 ratio) for PR+, HER2+ and TN breast cancers, and to use a lesser ratio of 1:1 or 1:3 for ER+ cancers. My goal has always been to get to 1:1 but the THC is so powerful that I haven't gotten beyond 1:2.

    This page references the estrogen receptors - smoke and crude extract competed for estrogen receptors, pure delta-9 THC it says did not, CBD did, but only at very high concentrations.

    My oncologist is aware that I'm using cannabis and says it's a great drug, her only concern is she believes it can be addictive. No mention of any estrogen concerns on her part.

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  • letranger
    letranger Member Posts: 234
    edited August 2015

    hello, I am new and would appreciate your advice. I have no experience with medical marijuana but am planning on going to a dispensary tomorrow or next week. I think I'd like to use a vaporizer. Any recommendations on a really good one. And the doc mentioned something about trokiese. I'm not sure if I'm spelling it right. And he said to try something with high CBD. Can you offer any advice in layman's terms? Thanks abunch!

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  • Cheesequake
    Cheesequake Member Posts: 264
    edited August 2015

    Hi letranger, welcome - not sure how much help I can be as my experience is pretty limited to just what I'm doing, but I'll try to help.

    Are you planning to use it for side effects from chemo, or as a cancer treatment? Generally it's believed you need higher concentrated amounts of cannabis to treat it, that smoking and vaping won't do it, but if it's for side effects, that usually works for people.

    I tried a vape pen (G-Pen by Snoop Dogg, only because it was so cheap compared to "real" vaporizers. They can get expensive.) I do not recommend the vape pens, not really any different than smoking it and it was very fiddly and broke easily. I've never tried any other vaporizer. I get the impression you use actual oil rather than herb with "real" vaporizers, but that you can buy an attachment for some vaporizers so you can use herb. Smoking it (or badly vaping it) irritates my throat. I only do it when I need immediate effect to go to sleep while waiting for my extract to kick in in an hour or two.

    I have no idea what trokiese could even refer to, and a Google search turned up nothing. Sorry about that.

    High CBD strains of marijuana include Charlotte's Web, which is all CBD, and Harlequin, which is 5 parts CBD to 2 parts THC. As I understand it, Charlotte's Web will not get you high. Realm of Caring make a number of all-CBD products out of Charlotte's Web.

    I've used Harlequin - it will get you a little bit stoned (or perhaps a lot if you've never used cannabis). Call a few dispensaries in advance to see if they have it - or other high CBD strains - available before bothering to drive there. Leafly is a great resource for finding high CBD strains and more info, just search for "CBD" or "high-CBD" to learn more.

    Let me know if I can confuse you any further ;)

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  • letranger
    letranger Member Posts: 234
    edited August 2015

    hi cheese quake,

    I really appreciate the confusion! Thanks for taking the time to try to explain it to me. So, to answer your question, I would like to use it for cancer treatment. I have mets to my brain and desperately want them gone. I'll also be on chemo pills. I'm hoping that the effect will be compounded if I try to do all of it together.

    This will truly be my first experience. I have no idea what to expect, but I'm 42 and I have a 4 year old who needs me so I'm willing to try it.

    The doc who gave me my card was taking so fast and spelling so fast, I could not keep up. Plus it was a tele-call, which was a weird experience. I have not visited a dispensary before so this, too, will be my first.

    A met a cancer patient who highly recommends the pax by ploom. I understand they are pricey. Have you tried that?

    I also asked the doc about pills. That was that strange name I wrote earlier. And I would like to know about oils. I don't really get it, do you put oils in the vaporizer or do you put it on your skin? But I'm wondering why I would put it on my skin, unless I was treating skin cancer, right?

    So, is it the CBD that kills cancer? Is the TCH more associated with relieving symptoms?

    Thanks again in advance. I think I'll be hanging out here!

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  • Cheesequake
    Cheesequake Member Posts: 264
    edited August 2015

    Research is not very strong on cannabis. Human trials really haven't been done, only animal trials and petri dish trials, so I can't give you any solid data on how much is needed to see any positive effect on the cancer itself. I can only tell you what the medical marijuana community seems to say:

    • One thing is that you need a bunch to treat cancer - much more than you'd get vaping or smoking. I'm using THC and CBD extracts. The extract is a very highly concentrated black/green goo that's the consistency of grease. (This also gets confusing because you'll see the extract referred to as "oil" - Rick Simpson Oil, for example - but it's very different than the stuff they make for vaping.) The extracts I bought have about 500mg of cannabinoid per gram of goo. I eat this like a supplement, in a capsule. The recommendation was to take half a gram of THC and half a gram of CBD EACH DAY. This much THC will just plain knock you out. Unless you're able to sleep all day every day for days on end, this is impossible. I just take as much as I can stand, which at this point is way less than the recommended "dose." Also realize a gram of extract is very different than a gram of vape oil or a gram of herb. Concentration is different in each.
    • MMJ folks also seem to feel that THC and CBD both have beneficial effects on cancer (this, again, isn't highly researched), and that they actually work better together than doing one or the other, similar to how some vitamins and minerals actually require others to be fully effective. A ratio of 1:1 THC to CBD seems to be generally accepted, though an article I referenced in an earlier post mentioned 4:1 THC:CBD for some types of breast cancer. It's a guessing game until more research is done.

    I just googled Pax - looks very slick! Sells for $199 and it's a loose-leaf vaporizer, so you're actually putting the herb in it. The ones I'd read about, yes, you put oils in the vaporizer and that's what you breathe in. I could be wrong however as I've no experience with vaping other than that mentioned in my previous post.

    As for what to expect, realize that if you use THC, you will get stoned. Do you have someone/s that can help you with the 4 year old?

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  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited August 2015

    Cheesequake, I really appreciate your matter-of-fact and precise reports of the whole MJ issue/experience.

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  • roxyandtaze123
    roxyandtaze123 Member Posts: 18
    edited August 2015

    hi cheesecake. I'm not a big poster on the site but I do read a lot. Wanted to know what your medical reason for the cannibis was. I'm Stage 4 with a lot of things going on. Such as pain, discomfort, joints that won't work, etc. it's never been an option offered to me. Nor would I think it would be beneficial!

    What exactly is your cancer?

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