Cannabis works better than opioids for cancer pain?

Study Shows Cannabis Is Safe To Treat Cancer Pain – Cancer Patients No Longer Need Opioids

As if being diagnosed with Big C wasn’t bad enough, cancer patients often have to deal with a variety of other debilitating conditions, the worst of which is cancer-related pain.

Although a cancer diagnosis does not automatically mean that you will be in pain, approximately 55% of cancer patients and 40% of survivors still experience chronic pain. Almost half of patients have to use opioids to treat the severe pain caused by the cancer itself, which in most cases prevents both patients and survivors from leading normal lives. There are many factors that contribute to how much pain one feels; Some days can be filled with pain while others are more bearable, but no matter what, pain should not be accepted as a part of cancer. There are treatments that are safe and effective.

Unfortunately, opioid medications have become the standard treatment for severe pain, whether cancerous or not. These ultra-powerful chemical drugs can relieve pain, but at what cost? The opioid epidemic in America has claimed the lives of millions of people because it is far too easy to overdose. Yet medical professionals continue to prescribe opioids to cancer patients and other terminally ill patients because they help them manage pain.

Opioids are extremely addictive and even the smallest overdose can be fatal.

So what else can cancer patients struggling with pain do?

Cannabis is a safe alternative to opioids

Medical marijuana has made waves for its powerful ability to treat pain safely and naturally. This is crucial for cancer patients.

A brand new review focusing on the therapeutic benefits of marijuana for cancer-related pain confirms this. The study, published in the medical journal Frontiers in Pain Research, was conducted by researchers in Israel. “Traditionally, cancer-related pain has been treated primarily with opioid analgesics, but most oncologists consider opioid treatment dangerous, so alternative therapies are needed,” says David Meiri, the study’s author and an assistant professor at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology.

“Our study is the first to evaluate the potential benefits of medicinal cannabis for cancer-related pain in oncology patients; Gathering information from the start of treatment and with repeated follow-up visits over time to get a thorough analysis of effectiveness,” he said.

For the evaluation, they spoke to cancer patients who were looking for other options available to manage their pain, as well as alleviate other cancer symptoms. They then worked with oncologists who issued medical cannabis licenses for their cancer patients, and interested patients who wanted to participate in the study were asked for their feedback.

“We have encountered numerous cancer patients who have asked us whether medicinal cannabis treatment could benefit their health,” explains Gil Bar-Sela, study co-author and associate professor at Ha’Emek Medical Center Afula.

In particular, the authors wanted to get more information about cannabis for cancer-related pain. “Our review of the existing research found that not much was actually known about their effectiveness, particularly for the treatment of cancer-related pain, and most of the results so far have been inconclusive,” he adds.

“Patients completed anonymous questionnaires before starting treatment and again at multiple time points over the following six months. We collected data on a number of factors including pain management, analgesic use, exposure to cancer symptoms, sexual problems and side effects,” adds Bar-Sela.

After reviewing the data, the researchers found that many outcome measurements showed improvements. Both cancer symptoms and pain scores were reduced, but more significantly, patients were able to stop taking opioids or other pain relievers. In addition, they reported that nearly half of the participants were successfully off all pain medications just 6 months after treatment with medical marijuana.

“Medicinal cannabis was suggested as a possible remedy for poor appetite, but most patients in this study lost weight anyway. Because a significant proportion of patients have been diagnosed with progressive cancer, weight loss can be expected as the disease progresses,” Meiri said.

Other studies reflect similar results

A 2021 clinical study conducted by researchers at the Minnesota Cancer Research Center in conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Health analyzed patients with stage IV cancer and their opioid use and licensed cannabis products.

Thirty study participants were assigned to consume herbal extracts during the study, starting at 2.5-5 mg THC/CBD, increasing to 30-40 mg THC and CBD per day for the course of the study, spanning two to lasted four weeks. “Medical cannabis use resulted in improvements in achieving personalized pain goals and reduced overall opioid needs. No serious adverse events were reported with cannabis, and most patients who used cannabis reported that the benefits outweighed the negative effects.”

“Our findings support previous studies suggesting that cannabis may relieve pain and minimize opioid use in both cancer and non-cancer settings… Incorporating cannabis into routine cancer care may improve pain control and minimize opioid needs.” , the authors concluded.

Meanwhile, a 2018 review by the European Journal of Internal Medicine conducted by Tikun Olam researchers examined how effective cannabis is for cancer patients. They found that cannabis was effective in reducing opioid intake in cancer patients within 6 months of starting use.

Lihi Bar-lev Schleider, the study’s lead researcher, told Rolling Stone that “cannabis is a very good alternative to reduce opioid use, improve quality of life, and reduce pain, nausea, and vomiting.”

Conclusion

There is solid data on the effectiveness of cannabis for treating the symptoms of cancer, including pain – which in itself is very difficult to treat. If you or a loved one are taking opioid drugs for cancer, talk to your oncologist about stopping the drugs and switching to cannabis instead for a safer experience and improved quality of life.

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