Mesothelioma Patients Turn to Cannabis
People have inhaled cannabinoids for many generations, from the Scythians through its ban by the federal U.S. government, and beyond.
Now we find that patients suffering from mesothelioma cancer can use medicinal marijuana as a means to reduce their troublesome symptoms. Many are beginning to personally explore the helpful aspects of this natural medicine as researchers continue their quest toward a cancer cure.
Mesothelioma is cancer of the mesothelium, a protective lining found on most of the body’s internal organs. Three out of every four cases cases of mesothelioma disease begin in the pleural mesothelium of the chest cavity. Mesothelioma can also begin in the abdominal cavity and around the heart.
Some common signs and symptoms of Mesothelioma include coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue, weight loss and poor respiratory function. Most early-stage patients are not aware that they are carrying the cancer or have developed Mesothelioma because its symptoms overlap with many other health conditions.
Increasing appetite
According to the American Cancer Society, marijuana improves a cancer patient’s appetite. Although the cellular function is still vague, this plant seems to trigger neurons that deal with taste and hunger.
Mesothelioma and other cancer patients need to eat during their treatment because the nutrients boost their fight against the ailment. However, treatment procedures typically cause nausea and a strong feeling to avoid food. Medicinal cannabis can be the answer to an upset stomach.
Reducing overall pain
Some cancer patients report a lot of pain in their bodies both during and after chemotherapy. Pain is incredibly debilitating, and it can have ill effects on a patient’s prognosis. Cannabis is known to dull the pain in the body, which helps any patient with cancer. Researchers believe that the plant works at the cellular level to block pain signals across the axons. Depending on the cannabis’s potency, a patient can feel relaxed for an hour or more with just a little bit of the plant in the body system.
Lifting the mood
When a person fights cancer, a negative mindset can be detrimental to the treatment. Cannabis is known to lift the spirits of anyone taking the substance. The subsequent high allows the person to feel good for an hour or longer. If the person continues to take the substance, this high and positive feeling can be extended. Good moods benefit the person so that they can fight off any more cancer tumors.
Possible ailment relief
The National Cancer Institute reports that laboratory test results reflect the direct relationship between declining cancer cells and cannabis use. Although more studies must be conducted, it’s possible that patients might have some cure to their ailment through this common weed. Patients simply need to inhale or consume the substance in order to see these possible results. Researchers are still concluding whether smoking or eating the cannabis is the best choice. The body must metabolize the substance in different ways, and it’s possible that eating or smoking it is better or worse for a condition.
Although the federal government still deems this plant as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, many states have medicinal laws that override this rule. Cancer patients may want to explore their options with this medicine in order to ease their symptoms. Dealing with cancer is difficult, but it can be tolerable with a natural substance offered through legal pathways.
You can contact Virgil Anderson at vanderson@mesothelioma.net