“Cannabis and breast cancer?”
I have had a lumpectomy for breast cancer IDC and one lymph node was cancerous. I had surgery, 30 x rads and am on hormone blockers for ER+ but HER2-. I started taking THC & CBD in January 2018 and my cancer markers CEA & CA15.3 are going down and I want to know if it is necessary to take the THC in the cannabis as well as CBD raw paste to prevent metastasis? Or is CBD alone able to do this?
Female | 69 years old
3 Answers
Your markers are down because you were treated. Cannabis has no role in extending life in your situation
There is a lot of scientific evidence that CBD oil is not effective in cancer and I evidence that THC has any value nor is there any reason they should. If you do not have metastatic disease then tumor markers have no role and should not be monitored. They are not specific enough to predict recurrence. There is good evidence that no scans/labs should be done unless there is a symptom to monitor. This is something the American Society of Clinical Oncology strongly discourages.
Hello, advances in breast cancer management occur through clinical trial results which are usually multi-institutional and are published in literature which is peer-reviewed. These have resulted in recommendations for chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormonal therapy. These recommendations are summarized in multiple published guidelines. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network, NCCN.org is composed of representatives from multiple cancer centers and updates their guidelines at least annually. They are open to be read by patients.
CBD and it’s derivatives have been used for centuries to treat multiple illnesses. It has been approved to treat nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy. It has many anecdotal reports of efficacy in treating cancer, but the current clinical trial evidence is insufficient to result in recommendations for its routine use. It is unknown if single-agent use or combination use is superior. It is not approved in the USA for routine use in breast cancer. Nonetheless there are multiple marijuana clinics in the USA that prescribe this agent. Preclinical laboratory data is available which reports an effect on cancer cells with administration of this drug.
My advice is to be very cautious when using this drug due to our inability to demonstrate effectiveness in the treatment of breast cancer. Certainly, it’s effects on the side effects of cancer treatment have been demonstrated. It is wise to ask your physician about their experience and reasoning regarding the prescription of this agent.
CBD and it’s derivatives have been used for centuries to treat multiple illnesses. It has been approved to treat nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy. It has many anecdotal reports of efficacy in treating cancer, but the current clinical trial evidence is insufficient to result in recommendations for its routine use. It is unknown if single-agent use or combination use is superior. It is not approved in the USA for routine use in breast cancer. Nonetheless there are multiple marijuana clinics in the USA that prescribe this agent. Preclinical laboratory data is available which reports an effect on cancer cells with administration of this drug.
My advice is to be very cautious when using this drug due to our inability to demonstrate effectiveness in the treatment of breast cancer. Certainly, it’s effects on the side effects of cancer treatment have been demonstrated. It is wise to ask your physician about their experience and reasoning regarding the prescription of this agent.
