Dr Sue Clenton, Oncologist and Specialist Consultant at Releaf, reflects on how medical cannabis can provide life-altering benefits to cancer patients and change the future of healthcare for the better.
PROVIDING NATURAL RELIEF TO CANCER PATIENTS
Often, when someone mentions cannabis for medical use, they are confronted with long-held beliefs relating to the plant being viewed as ‘illegal’, a ‘gateway drug’, or even ‘not effective’. But despite many possessing these dated pre-conceived ideas, there can be no doubt that medical cannabis is effective in alleviating the symptoms of many serious conditions. For those still holding onto these traditional beliefs, the results may need to be seen to be believed.
Having previously been a sceptic myself, working with Releaf has changed those beliefs as I’ve seen the plethora of benefits patients receive from having a medical cannabis prescription. Releaf is the fastest-growing medical cannabis clinic in the UK, helping thousands of new patients each week take control of their health and discover the life-changing benefits of medical cannabis with treatments that cannot be found elsewhere. More and more patients are seeking help for a range of conditions, including alleviating symptoms and side effects from their cancer treatment. For those patients, the private medical cannabis industry in this country is how they access it.
Although early studies suggest some cannabis strains may have anti-cancer properties, the jury is still undecided whether it can actually prevent or treat cancer. Whilst trials are ongoing in some cancer types to establish if medical cannabis could be an anti-cancer treatment, such as combining medical cannabis with chemotherapy in high-grade brain tumours, results are still awaited.
In the meantime, Releaf continues to see everyday patients use medical cannabis to successfully treat the side effects of chemotherapy. In fact, many cancer sufferers are now looking to medical cannabis as a way to ease their chronic pain – particularly those nearing the end of life.
The following are some of the ways in which medical cannabis is being used today to treat patients suffering from the side effects of cancer treatment.
TREATING PAIN AND THE SIDE EFFECTS
Many patients with cancer will experience pain at some point in their illness. Some will be given opiates, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, or neuropathic treating agents such as pregabalin. An abundance of side effects are associated with these treatments, yet they are routinely and readily supplied by the NHS as the best solution to ease pain.
Medical cannabis, however, works differently from traditional pain relief treatment by mimicking naturally occurring endocannabinoids to suppress sensitisation and inflammation via cannabinoid receptors, ultimately improving pain relief.
Whilst most cancer patients with severe pain will be prescribed opiates in the later stages of treatment, tolerance to opiates can build fast, and some of the side effects can even reduce their effectiveness. That’s not to mention the risk of dependency on these drugs. Comparably, many patients that I have seen through Releaf have been able to reduce their opiates and neuropathic agents once on medicinal cannabis, with very few side effects in comparison to more traditional treatments.
TREATING NAUSEA, VOMITING, AND ASSOCIATED LOSS OF APPETITE
Unfortunately, a plethora of cancer treatments are toxic and cause significant morbidity. A real concern for patients is the risk of nausea and vomiting that can come as a result of their treatment, and sadly, this fear is a reality for many.
The NHS has approved treatment through medical cannabis in this situation, but there are currently limited preparations available and very few clinicians who are happy to prescribe them.
Meanwhile, other traditional solutions, such as opioids, can be ineffective for some, making it feel as if there is nowhere else to turn. This is where Releaf fills the gap.
The use of medicinal cannabis can help relieve these symptoms and improve a patient’s appetite. The vomiting centre in the fourth ventricle (the chemoreceptor trigger zone or area postrema) detects the presence of poisons in the blood and causes vomiting and nausea. Cannabinoids work by exerting their anti-emetic effect by inhibiting HT3 (serotonin) receptors in this area, which then regulates vomiting. Releaf patients continually find their symptoms are much more reduced, and their quality of life improves with their private subscription.
TREATING MOOD AND SLEEP
It is easy to see why many cancer patients have difficulty with their mood and sleep. Worries about the future, their job, money, and family concerns can lead to low mood, anxiety, and poor rest. These can dramatically affect a patient’s quality of life and the motivation to continue active treatment.
Cannabis has been found to help with anxiety, especially when certain terpenes (aromatic compounds found in many plants) are present. These compounds have multiple actions, and some have anxiety-relieving properties, including Limonene.
There is less evidence for the treatment of depression, but it is postulated that a lower level of endocannabinoids can lead to depression and increasing these levels may improve mood.
The potential for the improvement of sleep is also well documented with cannabis. This includes improvement in falling and staying asleep, which can dramatically benefit the lives of those with cancer.
Currently, there is still a huge stigma attached to the use of medicinal cannabis. Even patients with legally prescribed medication are sometimes too scared to tell others they are taking it. Patients often turn to hiding in bathrooms, unable to tell employers and family members of their prescription.
Much of this attitude is historical, going back as far as 1925 at the Opium Convention, where control of cannabis was introduced, despite the plant having been used for thousands of years to treat a multitude of symptoms – and was even prescribed to Queen Victoria!
It is hard to believe that this medication has been so demonised despite its long history in medical settings compared with the serious side effects and complications associated with other medicines licensed for use in the UK, including the risk of accidental fatal overdoses that exist with opiates.
Patients still have to source medical cannabis themselves; some have been told their GP will no longer see them if they start taking it. Others simply cannot access this treatment privately and must seek help elsewhere through an illegal route. Here at Releaf, we aim to treat every patient individually and make their journey important.
We have several experts in our company who can help in this area. We have an oncologist, a palliative care consultant, a palliative care nurse, and a radiotherapy radiographer. Coupled with our palliative care scheme for those with a terminal diagnosis and our ability to support patients (weekly calls and extra help), Releaf is well-equipped to help individuals with cancer. Our governance policy is robust and allows for a trusted treatment, which encourages many to choose medical cannabis for cancer-related symptoms.
The safety and efficacy of medical cannabis for many conditions are still to be accepted socially. However, the knowledge of how well it can treat cancer patients should allow for more open thinking in terms of the potential for improved patient outcomes, which is something we healthcare providers want nothing more when we see our patients in pain. One of the most important goals for cancer patients is to live a good quality life, so surely it is in the best interest of our patients to at least consider more options that will allow them to achieve this.
ABOUT RELEAF
Releaf is the UK’s fastest-growing medical cannabis clinic, committed to improving patients’ quality of life through safe, effective treatments and empowering them to take control of their health. Serving over 3,000 new patients monthly, Releaf leads the medical cannabis sector with the UK’s only domestically grown cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs), supplied through a vertically integrated chain in partnership with Glass Pharms. Its proprietary HealthTech platform enables patients to manage consultations, prescriptions, and medication deliveries seamlessly in one place.
As a Care Quality Commission (CQC)-regulated clinic, Releaf adheres to the highest prescribing standards, ensuring reliable, high-quality care through its Patient Charter. Releaf’s dedicated Patient Support Team, with a low patient-to-support ratio, provides exceptional care, further enhanced by rigorous consultant training.
Releaf also prioritises patient education, offering evidence-based information to highlight the therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis for a range of conditions, including chronic pain, sleep disorders, mental health, and symptoms related to cancer treatment. Releaf’s CBPMs include premium cannabis flowers and oils with CBD and THC content of up to 24 percent, providing a full-spectrum approach to wellness.
