Can Cannabis Cure Bone Cancer?
Cancer is a word many people try to avoid. Years ago, when someone heard they had cancer, it was almost an instant death sentence. Fortunately, today there are ways to conquer cancer. Cannabis for one is a way to treat and combat cancer. There are many success stories and testimonies about various patients suffering from cancer that had great success with cannabis. Today we will look at bone cancer.
What is Bone Cancer?
Bone cancer is when a tumor forms in the bones with cancerous effects. Normal bone tissue gets destroyed in the process. Not all bone cancer is malignant. In fact, most bone tumors are benign. The difference between malignant and benign bone tumors lies in the harm it does. Benign tumors do not spread and don´t destroy bone tissue. It is not life threatening. Malignant bone cancers do spread and bring much harm to the bone tissue.
Bone cancer can be found in any bone in the body but is more common in long bones or the pelvic area. It is a rare type of cancer and does not include cancer that started in another part of the body and eventually spread to the bones. Before surgery or chemotherapy and radiation were the only ways to treat bone cancer. Cannabis has changed that scenario and renders and alternative option.
Types of Bone Cancer
There are three types of bone cancers. They are:
- Chondrosarcoma – a rare type of cancer that starts in the bones, but sometimes in the soft tissue surrounding the bones. The characteristic of this cancer is that its cells grow cartilage and needs to be removed surgically.
- Ewing sarcoma – like other bone cancers, it also starts in the bones or surrounding bone tissues. It is also commonly found in the abdomen. Teens are more prone to this type of cancer.
- Osteosarcoma – this type of cancer forms in the cells of the bones. Most of the time it occurs in the legs where long bones are, but sometimes it can be in the arms or any other bone.
Symptoms of Bone Cancer
Symptoms of bone cancer to look out for are:
- Bone pain – constant pain in the bone around the area where the cancer is
- Swelling and tenderness – the area affected is swollen and tender to the touch
- Bone weakened- the bone is prone to break easily
- Fatigue – severe tiredness is experienced
- Weight loss – Without trying, there is weight loss
When the experienced pain comes and goes and worsens at night and no painkiller helps, it is advisable to see a doctor for proper diagnoses.
Reasons why cannabis is an effective treatment
Bone metabolism is strictly regulated. When there is an impairment of any kind, mostly caused by a hormonal imbalance, bone loss happens. This is the major reason for bone cancer to form. The endocannabinoid system has receptors all over the body and receptors are also found in the bones. As the cannabis plant has cannabinoids and it interacts with the endocannabinoid system, studies show that it has anti-cancer agents. Cannabinoids show anti-proliferative (inhibits cell growth) and anti-angiogenic (stops tumors from growing) effects that are very promising with regards to cancer. The regulation of key cell-signaling pathways by cannabinoids is important for cell survival.
Cannabinoids are part of a very complex chemical family that binds to CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are mostly found in the brain and the central nervous system. CB2 receptors are found all over the body and the immune system. Cancer happens when the growth of the cells goes out of control and has the ability to invade other healthy cells and tissues. It enables the cells to spread.
Testimony of Bone Cancer Patient treated with cannabis
A boy from Colorado, Braden Stevenson, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. The cancer was at a very aggressive stage and doctors had no hope for him. They told his mom to send him off to a hospice. His leg was already amputated, and the cancer had also spread to his lungs. The doctors had options left to treat Braden.
His mom did not give up hope. She decided that if modern medicine was not the answer, she had to find an alternative. What could go wrong? She heard about cannabis but was not sure it would cure his cancer. But she thought she should at least give it a try and help him to soothe his pain.
Working with Trill Alternatives in Colorado, they started with a treatment of a ratio of THC/CBD and also included THCA. All of these together work on cell apoptosis. Cancer cells ignore the signal of cell death, but the cannabinoids force the cancer cells to listen to trigger and die. They explained that the treatment should always include THC and CBD because CBD counteracts the psychotic effects of THC and THC prevents metastasis.
After months of his treatment, Braden got tested again and the results blew their minds. His cancer significantly shrunk and the nodules in his lungs decreased from 40 to 3. He could go back to school!
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