December 5, 2014 – The benefits of cannabis have long been researched and proven useful in relieving pain, nausea, anxiety, and improving appetite and sleep quality. With 23 states, including New Jersey, now allowing use of medical marijuana, more and more people are understanding and appreciating the health benefits of the controversial drug. Scientific researchers are presenting evidence that cannabis, specifically the highly concentrated cannabis oil, may actually be effective in reducing tumor size and the spreading of certain types of cancer, including mesothelioma.
In one such case, a 68-year old man claims that the drug has given him a new chance at living a full life. One year ago, his doctors were preparing him and his wife for the worst. Diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma four years earlier, the clinical trial drug he had been taking stopped working. He was declining rapidly and his breathing had become significantly more difficult. The family was told to look into hospice care.
After considerable research, his wife decided to try giving him cannabis oil. Now, one year later, he says that the drug has worked wonders for him. He is healthy and happy and his CT scan last month showed no tumor growth. He expects the same at his appointment this month. The mesothelioma patient has also has stopped taking other drugs, including medications that he formerly had been prescribed to treat diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
Cannabis oil is extracted from the marijuana plant and can be orally ingested or vaporized and breathed into the lungs. The active ingredients being studied include tetrahydracannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), two of the more than 70 cannabinoids found in marijuana. Laboratory studies conducted by the National Cancer Institute indicate that the combination of these components may have powerful anti-tumor and anti-cancer properties, including induction of cell death, inhibition of cell growth, inhibition of tumor angiogenesis (blood vessel formation), and metastasis. Cannabinoids appear to kill tumor cells while having no effect on healthy cells, and may even protect them from death.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has so far been reluctant to support claims of anti-cancer properties of cannabis, citing a need for more research. It does, however, acknowledge that the drug can be effectively used to treat nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy treatments, and may be effective in relieving pain caused by damaged nerves. The ACS is supportive of more research on cannabinoids for cancer patients, but states that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s classification of marijuana as a Schedule 1 controlled substance complicates and deters adequate scientific research.
Philadelphia Asbestos Lawyers at Shein Law Advocate for Those Suffering From Mesothelioma
Philadelphia mesothelioma lawyers at Shein Law are committed to staying up to date on new information regarding risk for asbestos exposure, mesothelioma diagnosis, and treatment options for Pennsylvania and New Jersey residents with asbestos-related diseases. For more information, or to learn about your legal options in the event of a mesothelioma diagnosis, contact Shein Law. Our experienced and compassionate Philadelphia asbestos lawyers have successfully helped clients and their families obtain millions of dollars in compensation they need to cover expensive medical treatments, lost wages, and more. To get started with your case review, call 877-SHEINLAW (877-743-4652) today or contact us online.