Show Me the Facts

What is Cancer?

Cancer (medical term: malignant neoplasm) is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth (division beyond the normal limits), invasion (intrusion on and destruction of adjacent tissues), and sometimes metastasis (spread to other locations in the body via lymph or blood). These three malignant properties of cancers differentiate them from benign tumors, which are self-limited, do not invade or metastasize. Most cancers form a tumor but some, like leukemia, do not. The branch of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer is oncology.

Cancer may affect people at all ages, even fetuses, but the risk for most varieties increases with age. Cancer causes about 13% of all deaths. According to the American Cancer Society, 7.6 million people died from cancer in the world during 2007. Cancers can affect all animals.

(Wikipedia)

Marijuana Facts and Resources:

• Derivatives of cannabis for anti-cancer treatment
  “All of the compounds synthesized by Kogan inhibited cancer cell growth in cell culture, and one of them was found to markedly reduce the volume of tumors in animal studies The cannabinoid quinones were found to act through a rather unique pathway of cancer cell destruction — by specific inhibition of topoisomerase II, an enzyme that participates in cell replication. Most of the known anti-cancer drugs are less selective, acting by numerous mechanisms.”
• Cancer Killer
  “Clinical research published in a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research showing that marijuana’s components can inhibit the growth of cancerous brain tumours is the latest in a long line of studies demonstrating the drug’s potential as an anti-cancer agent.”
• Anandamide Induces Apoptosis
  “The endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) is shown to induce apoptotic bodies formation and DNA fragmentation, hallmarks of programmed cell death, in human neuroblastoma CHP100 and lymphoma U937 cells.”
• Nabilone improves pain and symptom management
  “Nabilone treatment improved pain, nausea, appetite and several other symptoms”
• The effects of smoked cannabis in painful peripheral neuropathy
  “10 of the 16 participants experienced a greater than 30% reduction in their pain”
• Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol for appetite stimulation
  “Thirteen patients reported an improved appetite. Conclusion: THC is an effective appetite stimulant in patients with advanced cancer. It is well tolerated at low doses.”
• Dronabinol and prochlorperazine in combination
  “prochlorperazine better than THC, both drugs combined better than both alone”
• Dronabinol enhancement of appetite in cancer patients.
  “Dronabinol stimulated mood and appetite”
• Efficacy of tetrahydrocannabinol
  “THC decreased nausea and vomiting in 23 of 36 (64%) patients”
• Nabilone versus domperidone
  “Nabilone superior to domperidone”
• Inhalation marijuana as an antiemetic for cancer chemotherapy.
  “Marijuana effective as antiemetic agent”
• Nabilone vs. placebo in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
  “Nabilone is an effective antiemetic agent for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.”
• The antiemetic activity of tetrahydrocanabinol versus metoclopramide
  “tetrahydrocannabinol given by mouth has an antiemetic effect of approximately the same order as thiethylperazine and metoclopramide”
• Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol as an antiemetic for patients receiving cancer chemotherapy
  “THC and PCP equally effective; both better than placebo; THC produced psychic effects in 82%”
• Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol as an antiemetic in cancer patients receiving high-dose methotrexate
  “14 of 15 patients had decreased vomiting and nausea”
• Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as an antiemetic in patients treated with cancer chemotherapy
  “dronabinol superior to placebo (P<.01 for difference between groups at days 1 and 8 independently)”
• Amelioration of cancer chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting by delta-9-THC
  “THC was found to be a significantly better antinausea and antivomiting agent, but not all patients obtained relief of nausea and vomiting with THC. In some patients, THC enhanced appetite during a course of chemotherapy. In two patients, a “high” associated with THC administrationwas reported. Drowsiness was reported significantly more frequently with THC.”
• Superiority of nabilone over prochlorperazine as an antiemetic
  “When both drugs were compared, both nausea and vomiting episodes were significantly lower in patients given nabilone.”
• Analgesic effect of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol.
  “A preliminary trial of oral delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) demonstrated an analgesic effect of the drug in patients experiencing cancer pain. Placebo and 5, 10, 15, and 20 mg THC were administered double blind to ten patients. Pain relief significantly superior to placebo was demonstrated at high dose levels (15 and 20 mg). At these levels, substantial sedation and mental clouding were reported.”
• Comparison of orally administered cannabis extract and delta-9-THC
  “CE at the oral dose administered was well tolerated by these patients with CACS. No differences in patients’ appetite or QOL were found either between CE, THC, and PL or between CE and THC at the dosages investigated.”
• Cannabis May Help Combat Cancer-causing Herpes Viruses
  “The compound in marijuana that produces a high, delta-9 tetrahydrocannbinol or THC, may block the spread of several forms of cancer causing herpes viruses, University of South Florida College of Medicine scientists report.”
• Marijuana Smoking Found Non-Carcinogenic
  “Smoking marijuana does not appear to increase the risk of lung cancer or head-and-neck malignancies, even among heavy users, researchers reported here.”
• HU-331, is More Potent and Less Cardiotoxic than Doxorubicin
  “A cannabinoid anticancer quinon, HU-331, is more potent and less cardiotoxic than doxorubicin”
  
• Therapeutic Aspects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids
  “Cannabis and some cannabinoids are effective antiemetics and analgesics and reduce intraocular pressure. There is evidence of symptom relief and improved well-being in selected neurological conditions, AIDS and certain cancers. Cannabinoids may reduce anxiety and improve sleep.”
• Anti-Tumor Effects
  “An Italian research team reported in 1998 that the endocannabinoid anandamide, which binds to the same brain receptors as cannabis, “potently and selectively inhibits the proliferation of human breast cancer cells in vitro” by interfering with their DNA production cycle.”