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Cannabis and Breast Cancer
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we’re discussing cannabis and breast cancer. There is no better time to raise awareness for this disease. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States.
Every year, it is estimated that over 280,000 women in America will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 43,000 will die from the disease.
Breast Cancer Prevention
While there is no surefire way to prevent breast cancer, there are a number of things that women can do to lower their risk. These include maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, limiting alcohol intake, and avoiding tobacco use. Additionally, science is beginning to show that cannabis may also have the potential to help prevent and treat breast cancer.
Cannabis and Breast Cancer Studies
A recent review of studies was published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Researchers had this to say,
“Cannabinoids (CBs) from Cannabis sativa provide relief for tumor-associated symptoms (including nausea, anorexia, and neuropathic pain) in the palliative treatment of cancer patients. Additionally, they may decelerate tumor progression in breast cancer patients. Indeed, the psychoactive delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) and other CBs inhibited disease progression in breast cancer models.”
An even more recent scientific review examined the effects of cannabinoids on different types of breast cancer. Their research concluded that,
“Pre-clinical studies have demonstrated that cannabinoids exert important antitumor properties in the main breast cancer subtypes”, and, “it is possible to conclude that, despite the need for more studies focused on breast cancer, cannabinoids are promising therapeutic agents for the different breast cancer subtypes, being able to exert important actions on cell survival and metastasis.
There seems to be enough available research and evidence for medical experts to suggest cannabis can help with breast cancer.
While more research is needed on the topic, these scientific reviews suggest that cannabis may be a safe and effective way to prevent and treat breast cancer. Consequently, patients who are interested in using cannabis as part of their treatment plan should discuss this option with their doctor. In addition, patients should make sure you are purchasing cannabis from a licensed medical marijuana dispensary like Terrabis so you can be confident that you are getting a high-quality product.