CBD oil (cannabidiol) is everywhere these days. Once available only at novelty or vitamin shops, it’s now also at your local grocery store, pharmacy or even yoga studio.
It comes in many forms: oils that are dropped under the tongue, roll-ons that are applied to the skin and even solutions for vaping. Some producers extract CBD oil and add it into foods to create edible products.
But what is CBD oil exactly, and how does it affect cancer patients? Can it really treat — or even cure — cancer or relieve its symptoms? To separate fact from fiction, we spoke with our Kimberson Tanco, M.D. Here’s what he wants cancer patients to know.
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Marijuana and hemp are both varieties of the cannabis sativa plant. Both contain cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — the two most-common, known active ingredients.
The main difference is that hemp has far less THC than a typical marijuana plant. And unlike THC, CBD is not a psychoactive agent, so there’s less possibility that it will cause the same mental confusion, drowsiness or hallucinations that often come with THC.
It’s hard to say if CBD oil can alleviate cancer symptoms or cancer treatment side effects, because the studies are pretty mixed and even fewer are standardized.
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There have been reports that cannabinoids like THC and CBD may be helpful for nausea and vomiting and anorexia, as well as neuropathy, anxiety, depression and insomnia. Synthetic cannabinoids like dronabinol have been approved for use with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, but have not been shown to be superior to conventional anti-nausea medications.
Have any CBD-oil derived products been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat cancer, its symptoms, or the side effects caused by its treatment?
Yes. Epidiolex. It was originally approved in 2018 for the treatment of two conditions, both related to epilepsy: Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome. But aside from Epidiolex, no CBD product has been approved by the FDA for any other medical purpose.
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All drugs and dietary supplements are regulated by the FDA. But as long as CBD oil is not marketed as a medicine or a dietary supplement, producers can get around that policy. So right now, CBD oil is very unregulated. That means it’s hard to know how much CBD or THC is really in any given product. Certain hemp CBD products have been found to contain significantly less CBD or more THC than advertised.
In terms of purity, THC and CBD are both extracted from hemp and marijuana using essentially similar processes. But trace amounts of THC could still end up in CBD oil. And if the THC is at a high enough concentration, it could produce the psychoactive effects that THC is known for.
Second, if a lab produces both CBD and THC products, there can be cross-contamination — whether it’s through extraction, handling or packaging.
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Third, the plant itself may have higher levels of THC than expected. This could be due to its environment, prolonged flowering periods or cross-contamination and pollination between male and female plants, resulting in offspring with higher THC content. This especially affects hemp plants, which should have less than 0.3% THC levels.
Finally, there have been some reports of people getting infections after using CBD and cannabis products. This is especially concerning for immunocompromised patients, who are already susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections.
Studies on a certain CBD manufacturer showed its products were contaminated with a chemical known as 5F-ADB, which mimics THC. 5F-ADB is classified by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as illegal, potentially addictive and with no accepted medical use.
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Other sorts of substances have been found in CBD products, too, such as dextromethorphan, which is an ingredient in cough medicines. Heavy metals like lead and arsenic, pesticides and mold have also been found in CBD products.
And in lab studies, CBD has been shown to inhibit certain enzymes responsible for the metabolism of drugs, such as CYP2D6 and CYP3A4. This can affect how drugs work and affect our bodies, either by reducing their efficiency or making them more dangerous. This includes chemotherapy and other medications.
This is very important for cancer patients to understand, as many people think CBD oil is not a medicine. They think of it more as a vitamin or a supplement, so they might not let their doctors know they’re using it. Patients might not realize it can be potentially harmful. So, it’s very important to tell your doctor if you’re using CBD oil.
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At the national level, any product of marijuana — including CBD — is still technically illegal when used medically. Although the 2018 Farm Bill legalized the production of hemp nationally, that’s only permitted if it’s not marketed for medical use or as a dietary supplement. CBD products intended for medical use should undergo an FDA review process.
State laws vary. In Texas, the Compassionate Use Act allows for the use of medical marijuana for certain conditions. Originally only for intractable epilepsy, the law was expanded this year to include cancer and certain neurodegenerative conditions, such as Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis.
But the application of this law is pretty jumbled right now. So, while it may be legal to use CBD in a state like Colorado or Alaska, if an employer follows federal regulations, the standardization and quality of a CBD product matters. Because if there’s even a small percentage of THC in that product, then a drug test might come back positive. And this could result in legal issues for the user.
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There’s still a lot to learn. So always let your health care team know if you are using CBD oil. That way, we can make sure nothing interacts adversely with your cancer treatments or other medications.
Also, avoid products with health-related claims on their labels. The only product approved by the FDA for its medical value is Epidiolex.When it comes to medical cannabis for patients with cancer, the benefits are clear — reduced pain, increased appetite, helping with depression and fighting nausea and vomiting. Patients using medical marijuana for gastric cancer can realize all these benefits. Even though its anticarcinogenic effects are still being studied, ongoing research continues to point out patients claiming medical weed a miracle herb.
Gastric Cancer Video Transcript: The gastrointestinal or GI tract includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine. It is here in the GI tract where digestion of food takes place. The stomach collects food and uses enzymes to break down partially digested food into usable nutrients. The stomach has three layers of tissue: the innermost (mucosal layer), middle (the muscularis layer) and the outermost (serosal layer). Sometimes the cells of the inner layer begin to grow rapidly and without order. When this occurs, cancer can develop. Cancer of the stomach is called gastric cancer. Gastric cancers can spread to the other layers of the stomach and to nearby lymph nodes. In the early stages of gastric cancer, symptoms can include indigestion, stomach pain, heartburn and loss of appetite. As the cancer progresses, symptoms progress to blood in the stool, vomiting, weight loss and the collection of fluid in the abdomen called ascites. Treatment and prognosis of gastric cancer depends on the stage at which the cancer is diagnosed. Stages of gastric cancer refer to the number of stomach layers affected by the cancer and the number of nearby lymph nodes where cancer cells are also present. Stage zero: Cancer is just beginning to affect the innermost mucosal lining of the stomach. Stage one: Cancer has begun to penetrate toward outer layers of the stomach or may have spread to nearby lymph nodes. Stage two: Cancer has spread further through layers of the stomach; more distant lymph nodes may be involved. Stage three: Cancer has spread through all layers of the stomach or is affecting more distant lymph nodes. Stage four: Cancer has spread to nearby tissues and organs or is spread to more distant areas of the body through the lymphatic symptoms. Treatment options include: gastrectomy, the surgical removal of part or all of the stomach, other options may include chemotherapy, radiation or any combination of these three therapies. Your doctor is the best source of information regarding treatment for your condition. It is important to discuss with your doctor which therapy, if any, is most appropriate for you. Learn more below about how medical marijuana can help treat gastric cancer. How and Why Marijuana Can Be an Effective Treatment for Gastric Cancer
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Tumor cells are continually growing and dividing, which is one reason they become malignant. Eventually, they reproduce to the point where they disrupt your essential bodily functions. Lab models have shown cannabinoids like CBD and THC stop this reproduction. In fact, high doses of cannabinoids were shown to slow the reproduction of cancer cells, according to a 2008 review. Cannabis at high doses increases the activation of cannabinoid receptors.
In another study, Korean researchers found the synthetic version of the THC cannabinoid, WIN 55, 212-2, is antineoplastic, meaning it can hinder and prevent the development and growth of cancerous gastric cells.
Whether cannabis and gastric cancer treatment can reduce tumors or eliminate them,
