Doctors need more information about cannabis (study result)
- Medical cannabis patients are usually asked by doctors, not the other way around
- In most cases, patients do not receive enough information from doctors
- Patients treating cancer are most interested in cannabis
- Doctors admit that they need more official data on medical cannabis
It is now clear to our readers, customers and people interested in medical cannabis today that there is a multidimensional, healing potential in this plant. Even so, there are many of us who, due to misinformation, still believe that cannabis is harmful in some strange way. Fortunately, the number of direct opponents is declining significantly, but with knowledge of the effects of cannabis, it is still pale among people.
"A recent research questionnaire from U.S. cancer doctors found that more than half of them recommended cannabis to their patients, even though they admit they know almost nothing about it."
The results of this study clearly show how changes in legislation have preceded research and public and medical awareness of medical cannabis. In a total of 29 states, doctors are free to prescribe cannabis patients. However, if asked, they can no longer show patients the results of official studies of cannabis and its effects on cancer. Despite the large number of positive stories and cases of cannabis- treated cancers, not enough clinical research has been conducted so far. Thus, doctors treating cancer still have to rely on data from studies of other diseases.
"It simply came to our notice then. In short, we need much more quality research and clinical data, ”said Dr. Ilana Braun, of the Boston Institute for Cancer Prevention and Treatment, who is responsible for the aforementioned research.
Many patients are interested in what their doctors think about medical cannabis. The survey also mentions that the topic of medical cannabis is always started by patients or their loved ones before the doctors themselves.
"Cancer doctors are not as opposed to alternative treatments as you might think at first. Rather, they want more information and realize that they are simply not sufficiently educated in the field of cannabis and its healing effects, "adds Dr. Ilana.
"The US National Academy of Sciences and Medicine said last year that by hampering proper research on medical cannabis by the federal government, we expose both patients and recreational users to potential unknown risks."
The survey also shows that patients ask doctors about cannabis in 8 out of 10 cases. There is already a lower level of statistics on the part of doctors - only 1 in 10 doctors themselves recommend cannabis in the case of cancer for the treatment of pain or side effects of chemotherapy . In addition, even from the 10 percent of doctors who recommended cannabis, half subsequently admitted that they did not have enough information about cannabis.
The survey data consisted of questionnaires from a total of 237 doctors in the field of cancer treatment. The illegality of medical cannabis in many countries in today's world is still a major obstacle. In the United States, despite the legalization of its use for treatment and recreation in many states, research is hampered by the federal government, which legislates are still on the same footing as cocaine.
In addition, we already have enough knowledge about the positive effects of therapeutic marijuana on the side effects of chemotherapy. For example, nausea caused by chemotherapeutic treatment and its alleviation with cannabis is a well-known fact and about 50% of doctors agree with it. In addition, about 67% of doctors mentioned that medicated marijuana seems to them to be a much better and especially safer alternative to conventional analgesics and opiates.
We are far from knowing everything about medical cannabis. Some surveys even suggest that marijuana use (especially in chronic users) may cause a greater chance of an accident, the development of bronchitis (with conventional smoking) or even schizophrenia and other types of psychosis.
Dr. Steven Pergam of the Cancer Care Alliance in Seattle answers a question about his views on cannabis safety as follows:
"If we have a patient with an advanced stage of cancer who has managed to spread irreversibly, then it is appropriate to simply provide anything to make him feel better. For example, in patients being treated for leukemia, it is good to be careful. Due to a malfunctioning immune system in patients with leukemia, smoking cannabis can lead to dangerous fungal infections. "
" If we do not warn against potential risks, then who? Patients start looking for information on their own, and as we all know, not all information is safe, true and verified. ”
Patients want more information about cannabis
Interestingly related research by the National Institute for Cancer Treatment in Washington state is also interesting here. The institute decided to find out how patients' demand for medical cannabis has changed after its use in the state became available for both medical and recreational purposes.
The research shows that 74% of all participating citizens are interested in cannabis for treatment. But what are the chances that they will subsequently receive quality information? Very thin to zero. The results of the surveys also showed that 15% of those who had received some information so far received it from their nurses or district doctors.
Most of the time, people looked at the information in the ranks of their friends, in magazines, asked cancer patients and read cannabis blogs, like you are reading right now. Out of 926, only 8% (73) said they were not interested in cannabis and did not want to know anything about it.
The National Cancer Institute quietly acknowledges the effectiveness of THC
The National Cancer Research Institute ( NCI ) is an organization responsible for developing and researching new treatments for cancer, as well as for communicating the latest knowledge to the public and especially to patients. On its official website the NCI called "for principal US government agency for cancer research." At the end of 2015, the government agency very quietly admitted finding that they are in the lab managed to destroy cancer cells using cannabis.
The NCI website provides a comprehensive analysis describing the effects of medical cannabis, its active ingredients and its effects on the body. One day NCI added a very interesting bullet:
"Cannabis cells have successfully killed cancer cells in laboratory experiments (See Section 6 for more information)."
"Section 6" describes the results of preclinical studies using either cannabinoids alone or medical cannabis as a whole. The website also writes about the fact that in experiments on mice and rats affected by cancer, carcinogenic cells died after the application of cannabinoids. Cannabis in their bodies first blocked the production of blood circulation and, say, interrupted the body's nutrition flowing into the cancer cells. As a result, the cells died and the cancer was cured.
The results of the study of cannabis for the treatment of cancer further mention:
- Cannabinoids drastically reduce the chances of developing colon cancer. Cannabis has been shown to help reduce the number of inflammations in the colon;
- Delta-9-THC in the study helped remove and kill cancer cells in the liver;
- CBD from cannabis in the laboratory killed breast cancer cells. Normal, healthy breast cells seemed unaffected in any way;
- CBD, when used in conjunction with chemotherapy, quite possibly increases the effectiveness of chemotherapy and also helps accelerate the death of cancer cells without compromising healthy cells.
As a bonus, NCI also mentions the following effects of medical cannabis:
- Stimulation of appetite
- Pain relief
- Alleviation of nausea
- Breaking down anxiety and depression
- Improving sleep and sleep quality
However, as we know, medical cannabis is still not federally recognized in the United States, and in many countries in the world today, people are still prosecuted for possession. The only widely used cannabis substances so far are artificial dronabinol and nabilone, which essentially mimic natural CBD and THC and are prescribed against nausea in chemotherapy.
Do you think it is right that people are imprisoned with murderers and rapists because of the plants in the garden or those who are trying to provide a sufficient supply of natural remedies for their loved ones? The NCI itself has written on its own website that cannabis substances cure and kill cancer cells. Fortunately, the situation changes every day, but we still have a huge problem here, and especially the impossibility of providing treatment to those in need.
Source: leafly.com leafly.com2