One of the scariest things for anyone to hear is the words, “You have cancer.” From that moment, life takes on a different meaning and a new level of importance. Even though cancer is often fatal, cancer treatment had advanced exponentially since the days when the mere word “cancer” sounded like a death sentence.
Cancer patients have a long road to recovery, and even cancer treatment itself can be a sickening experience. With everything from chronic fatigue to acute nausea and muscle weakness, getting healthy is a tumultuous journey for cancer patients. Many cancer patients use marijuana to help cope with their illness and cancer treatment—continue reading to find out why.
Cannabis is a pain reliever.
We all know that cancer is dangerous and deadly, but people often fail to mention how painful cancer can be. It can limit or eliminate physical activity and significantly reduce your quality of life.
Your doctor may have you work with a physical therapist while in treatment to help you maintain or regain mobility, but dealing with the pain is a different story. One of the main uses of cannabis is as a pain reliever. As a neuropathic pain reliever, it eases pain caused by damaged nerves. Also, clinical trials have shown that cancer patients who use marijuana extracts tend to rely less on pain medications.
If you live in a state like California or Colorado, where weed is legal for recreational use, you don’t have to wait on your doctor to give you a prescription. The Legion of Bloom is a cannabusiness that specializes in making THC vape cartridges. Their goal is to help heal humanity and the earth, which is why a portion of the proceeds from their Bloom carts goes toward saving the monarch butterfly.
Cannabis is a stress reliever.
As you read earlier, a cancer diagnosis is something that immediately quickens the heart rate. However, when you’re dealing with a potentially fatal illness, stress is your worst enemy. One of the best things about cannabis is that it’s a great stress reliever.
THC and CBD are the two most prominent cannabinoids. Many experts believe that both cannabinoids are great for treating anxiety and depression, making them great for cancer patients who are anxious or despondent due to their cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Many cancer patients who aren’t fans of marijuana still find great relief using CBD products. One of the great things about CBD is that it has many of the same health benefits as THC but without the “high” feeling. That means you can get the positive vibes without getting the mind-bending effects of weed.
Cannabis can help improve your appetite.
One of the many side effects of cancer treatment is that patients tend to lose their appetite, and many go through significant weight and muscle loss. Not to mention that many of the medicines administered through chemotherapy are known to cause severe nausea.
If you know anything about marijuana, you know it’s infamous for causing what’s known as the “munchies.” Many cancer patients who smoke marijuana report that not only did their appetite return but the marijuana also eased their nausea.
The thing about losing your appetite is that your body still sorely needs the nutrients from food, and being malnourished won’t help your fight against cancer. You need your strength during cancer treatment, which means you need to give your body the proper nutrients. Smoking marijuana can help you regain your appetite and even get back to a healthy weight.
Cancer treatment is more advanced now than ever before, but it also does a number on the body. Loss of appetite, chronic pain, and depression are all common to cancer patients, and for a long time, there seemingly was no remedy for those ailments except for more meds and side effects. Now, we know that a little cannabis with cancer treatment goes a long way.
