Can CBD help with cancer?

It's a word we're all familiar with, and, for many of us unfortunately, more familiar that we might like. There are many sources going into the detailed science behind how cancer occurs. We couldn't do the whole subject justice here but we will cover a few fundamental things.

Cancer arises from a change in the genetic material. More specifically, if these changes go wrong or can no longer be repaired and are falsified.

Such changes are influenced, for example, by UV rays, smoking or chemicals. Some people are also more susceptible to cancer due to their heritage.

But chance can also play a role in cancer. With cell division, the genetic material is always doubled and finally distributed to two daughter cells. But this process (or these changes) can lead to errors or mutations in the cells.

These cancer cells can then continue to divide and spread throughout the body. They are also able to penetrate neighbouring tissue and spread further. This spread is called metastasis formation.

What types of cancer are there?

Unfortunately there are many different types of cancer, which of course does not necessarily make research easier. In principle, every organ can be affected by cancer.

Most often, however, the disease occurs in the intestine, lungs, prostate, or in breasts. Colon cancer is also another common form of the illness.

Whether there is a cure and what the chances are, depends on other factors as well as the type of cancer and can therefore not always be answered uniformly.

There are cancers where there is a higher probability of survival, but there are also cancers where the chance of survival is unfortunately very small. For example, prostate cancer is a slow growing cancer.

The prognosis for lung cancer is particularly poor. The five-year survival rate for lung cancer is 56% for cases that are detected early and still contained within the lungs. Sadly the number of cases detected at this stage is just 16%. Once the cancer has spread to other organ the 5 year survival rate is just 5%

Brain tumours are examined more frequently, even though they occur very rarely. They make up just 2% of cancer.

The location of the tumour in the brain makes this cancer very tricky. An operation can be very dangerous as it involves many significant risks.

The growth of the tumour could also cause extensive damage to the brain. The most malignant tumour in the brain is a glioblastoma. Less than 10% survive the first 5 years since diagnosis, which is a scary and sobering statistic.

But what do the experts say about CBD and the world of oncology? We have found some interesting reports from the research available to us.

A report by scientists from Winchester Hant and London is particularly useful. They examined the effects of synthetic CBD on cancer in humans.

The study participants received an average of 10 mg CBD daily. The exact dose was also dependent on the status of the disease and the individual.

The CBD oil was used in cancer patients for at least 6 months. However, some continued to take it afterwards.

The follow-up showed that in some patients the metastases decreased and the spread of the cancer cells was at least slowed down.

However, no effect was found in a few test subjects. Overall, an effect was recorded in 92% of the patients. There were no notable side effects.

As a sombre reminder of the seriousness of cancer, it should be noted that despite the treatment with CBD, 27 patients died during the study, although this isn't attributed to CBD. That is about 23% of all participants.

However, the authors remain optimistic and believe that CBD could be a potential treatment option for people with breast cancer or glioblastoma. However, further studies (especially clinical ones) were also necessary.

This result was also confirmed in another study. However, it seems that a mixture of CBD and THC is particularly beneficial for this type of cancer, which of course is tricky whilst THC remains illegal in the UK.

Study participants from the GW Pharmaceuticals group received a spray with 27 mg / ml THC and 25 mg / ml CBD for a certain period of time. Another group of patients, however, was only given the drug TMZ.

While the 1-year survival rate was 44% in the TMZ group, that in the spray group was 83%. A very promising result.

Eventful research is also available in the field of apoptosis, which suggests CBD can manipulate cancer cells to trigger premature cell death. An investigation shows that the not yet decarboxylated form of CBD - the CBDA acid, which we explain more about here - interacts with receptors in the cell nucleus and could thus provoke apoptosis.

Another study reinforces these findings. This study found that the use of CBD resulted in the activation of the apoptotic pathway that can be found in breast cancer cells, which subsequently lead to cancer cell death.

Of course, this raises the justified question of whether CBD will then also kill the other healthy cells. However, as studies in mice and rats show, CBD even protects normal cells from apoptosis, highlighting the idea that cannabinoids only kill tumour cells.

And in addition to this, another study found that breast cancer cells were sensitive to CBD’s anti-cell proliferation effects (i.e. the ability to stop rapid growth) without having a significant effect on healthy cells. Just low amounts of CBD were used in this study.

According to the same study, CBD has shown to inhibit 'migration, invasion, and metastasis in aggressive breast cancer in vivo and in vitro'. These are terms that are used a lot in scientic studies.

In vivo refers to when research using an entire, living organism. For example, animal models or human clinical trials.

In vitro refers to work that takes place outside of a living organism. For example, studying cells.

While CBD is generally considered safe, side effects could nonetheless occur. Compared to other substances, however, these are relatively small.

In addition, CBD could also inhibit appetite. This may be a particular issue alongside cancer treatment, given that cancer patients may already be suffering with similar side effects. It is essential to ensure that there is no significant weight loss as there is a risk of cancer cachexia.

Many patients with advanced cancer undergo a wasting syndrome characterised by anorexia, loss of weight, asthenia, and a poor prognosis, referred to as the cancer anorexia/cachexia syndrome. In defining these terms further, anorexia describes loss of appetite and/or an aversion to food.

There are substances made for medical use that contain cannabis as an ingredient. An example would be the drug Sativex, which has also been examined in several studies for its behaviour with cancer.

Current medicines that can be issued by doctors are also Dronabinol or Nabilone. They are used to treat cancer-related side effects.

In order to relieve pain, cannabis is now increasingly being sold to some patients in UK on prescription since it's legalisation in 2018. However, there is still some reluctancy from UK doctors to do so.

A gratifying sign for cancer patients can now be seen in the US, where the regulatory authorities are now allowing a shorter approval process for medicines for glioblastomas. According to experts, new drugs could come onto the market as early as 2023.

There are two approved synthetic THC drugs that are being used to treat the effects of chemotherapy, such as nausea and vomiting.

Dronabinol

This is available in the form of a capsule (Marinol) and in tincture form (Syndros) and contains THC.

Nabilone

This is an oral synthetic cannabinoid (Cesamet) that works in a similar way to THC.

You should always choose highest quality products available to you - regardless of whether you have cancer or another illness. For example, for CBD oil full-spectrum extracts are often considered best, as you can benefit from other cannabinoids or terpenes in addition to cannabidiol (CBD) and thus obtain an entourage effect (this occurs when cannabinoids work together to enhance the effect of the product).

Some of the studies presented showed that it can make sense to consume a mixture of CBD and THC. However, THC is only legal for medical purposes in the UK, unlike CBD which is legal.

Over the counter CBD products are only legal if they do not contain THC or other controlled substances. This makes it tricky for patients to get the potential benefit of THC. In Europe and other parts of the world, the legal limit for THC is 0.2%.

So if you want to have THC legally in the UK, you have to get a prescription from a doctor. which you can then redeem in a pharmacy. Medical cannabis is already legal in the UK.

In general, it is certainly good to discuss using CBD with the doctor beforehand. CBD oils, CBD crytsals or CBD liquids may be the most practical ways to take CBD if you decide to. However, the latter is often taken via vaping, which may not be comfortable or advisable for certain kinds of cancers.

Depending on the complaints, you can also use other products. A calming hemp tea is very suitable, for example, before falling asleep or in case of anxiety.

There is no uniform dosage recommendation for CBD in cancer. Because everyone is different and reacts differently to CBD. It's worth knowing that you don't have to worry about an overdose.

While some believe that a too low a dose would be of no use (other than a placebo effect), we think that it shouldn't be exaggerated. Rather, you should approach the CBD products slowly and seriously and, in consultation with a doctor or pharmacist, find the right dosage. It is not uncommon for people who aren't feeling a significant effect from CBD, to be more success after lowing the dosage. More does not necessarily mean better in the world of CBD.

Depending on the suffering and degree of illness, a certain number of drops (with CBD oil) is helpful. So the dosage would be much easier.

A drop of 5 percent CBD oil, for example, corresponds to 1.7 mg of CBD, whereas a drop of a 10 percent oil is already 5 mg of CBD.

Unfortunately, there are still insufficient studies to really say that CBD could be a good alternative to prescribed medication for cancer. However, research is already showing promising results on which one should and must build. It is a positive that CBD is able to be taken alongside current cancer treatments.

We are by no means saying that CBD cures cancer. However, there is evidence that CBD can be used in relation to cancer and that it can help relieve the side effects or side effects of cancer.

It would be conceivable for patients to regain a little quality of life if their suffering from pain, anxeity of nausea is alleviated.

Even if there is at least a small chance that CBD will promote the killing of cancer cells or that chemo and radiation therapies could be more effective, research should continue.

Unfortunately, many scientists are still put off by the taboo status of cannabis in society and fear the damage to their reputation.