Surviving chemo was bad! It was really bad for my wife and it was not a walk in the park for me. It was more like a walk on Elm Street.
When my wife told me the doctor found a lump in her breast, we talked about the possibility of cancer and we were concerned. When the doctor told us that she had a very aggressive form of Metastatic breast cancer, we were both floored.
He told us we could expect Chemo, surgery, more chemo, and more surgery. She looked at me with tears in her eyes and told me that she wasn’t ready for the ordeal. I promised her I’d be by her side every step of the way.
I asked her to be strong. Intellectually, I had a good idea of what we faced, but I had no idea of what an emotional ride we were about to take. But there was one saving grace – a really big one.
A few months prior to our ordeal, I started researching CBD to write a report exploring its properties. I read that many experts agree that CBD is an effective way to treat and prevent many medical conditions.
CBD has been found effective to help with weight loss, anxiety, heart health, inflammation, nausea, and pain. These medical conditions have always held a great deal of concern and interest in the medical community. Was this really a wonder supplement or was this all hype?
I was about to learn firsthand, one of the most important things this substance was good for. As the editor of GreatLifeGazette.com, I wanted to learn for myself if it was true. Little did I know that it would make such a huge impact on my own life.
Shortly after I began my research, I read how CBD helped Chemo Therapy patients. They had me at Chemo. I wanted to know as much as possible about it. Now it was personal. I had to find out if CBD really worked and if it is safe.
Going through Chemo with her was one of the toughest times I have ever faced. I realized how important Surviving Chemo with CBD would become.
For her, it was a Godsend. CBD helped her get some needed sleep and reduced her depression. It helped me sleep as well because it reduced my anxiety.
I’m not going to tell you that it was a cakewalk but it helped a lot. It’s been two years now and my wife still takes her 750 Softgels every night and sleeps well.
The following information is the result of my research:
Surviving Chemo with CBD
CBD White Paper
CBD Basics
Cannabinol, commonly referred to as CBD is extracted from hemp. To be legal in all states, CBD cannot contain more than .03% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC is the substance that causes a psychoactive effect).
Is it safe? According to experts, including the World Health Organization, CBD does not have any harmful properties. Pure CBD does not cause mind alterations, hallucinations, etc.
Does it work? There is a considerable body of research and anecdotal evidence that it works. for many medical conditions. Medical practitioners agree there should be more research. Additionally, Hemp/CBD has been in use for thousands of years to treat many ailments.
For the pharmaceutical industry, the impact of CBD is huge.
Potential Medical Application
The following includes information about CBD’s potential medical application and a brief explanation of how it might be used.
Inflammation
CBD engages with many organs throughout the body, helping to reduce inflammation systemically. The therapeutic potential is impressive and wide-ranging because inflammation is involved in a broad spectrum of diseases. (2)
Anxiety
The National Institute on Health reported CBD has properties that reduce anxiety. Other studies also suggest CBD reduces anxiety associated with social anxiety disorder. (3)
Bone Diseases and Broken Bones
CBD has demonstrated its ability to reduce the risk of age-related bone diseases like osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. CBD helps spur the process of new bone-cell formation, healing of broken bones, and decreases the likelihood of re-fracturing the bone. (4)
Brain Health
Cannabinoids help protect brain cells from damage, keeping the organ healthy and functioning properly. CBD has also been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect on the brain. (5)
Cancer
According to the CBD has properties (NCI), CBD may help alleviate cancer symptoms and cancer treatment side effects. The treatment promise of CBD is its ability to reduce inflammation and stops the ability of some types of tumor cells to reproduce. (The NCI does not fully endorse any form of cannabis as a cancer treatment.)
Preliminary research shows that CBD may reduce the risk of cancer. One expert called the findings intriguing but preliminary. (7)
Depending on the type of treatment, Surviving Chemo with CBD can play a very important role.
Crohn’s and Irritable Bowell Disease (IBD)
Studies point to CBD as a promising treatment for inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s. While there are some initial indications, there’s not a great deal of clinical backing. (8)
Depression
Studies suggest that CBD is useful for depressive episodes in bipolar cases, but not for manic episodes. A review of other studies on CBD showed anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects in several models and suggested that the compound worked. (9) According to researchers, CBD protects neurons in the hippocampus — the exact brain area that is atrophied in depressed people. (9a)
Diabetes and Obesity Prevention
A report published in the American Journal of Epidemiology concluded that rates of obesity are about one-third lower among cannabis and potentially CBD users. In another study, researchers found that the same group had fasting insulin levels that were up to 16 percent lower than their non-using counterparts, higher levels of HDL cholesterol that protects against diabetes, and 17 percent lower levels of insulin resistance. (10)
Degenerative Diseases
In a report from the World Health Organization, researchers found CBD may be an effective treatment for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and Multiple Sclerosis. Many reports say that, though results look good in small studies, more clinical research is needed to know for sure. (11)
Epilepsy and Seizures
There are documented indications that CBD is effective for treating epilepsy. That’s why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel unanimously recommended approval of the CBD medication Epidiolex to treat two rare forms of childhood epilepsy. (12)
Fibromyalgia
Research suggests CBD has a favorable potential for relief from chronic neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and postoperative pain. An additional benefit was an increase in the subject’s feeling of well-being. (13)
Heart Health
Several studies demonstrate CBD can reduce atherosclerosis and protect the heart against vascular damage and stroke caused by high glucose, inflammation, or type 2 diabetes. CBD could also mitigate the negative cardiovascular effects of stress and high blood pressure, providing a potential alternative to traditional medications used to lower blood pressure. (14)
Pain
There has been a lot of research on the use of CBD to control pain. Several studies demonstrate that CBD can reduce the number of opioids needed to control pain, lessen the buildup of tolerance, and reduce the severity of withdrawal. Experts suggest CBD could be as effective as an opioid without the dangerous side effects. (15)
Psychosis
CBD is known to help patients with psychosis—some doctors have called it a legitimate antipsychotic, and a recent study called CBD “a new class of treatment for the disorder.” The medical community encourages more research. (16)
Skin Ailments- Acne
Since CBD is an anti-inflammatory, CBD skin-care products may be helpful when applied topically. There is research that points to its efficacy as an acne treatment. This is because it may limit inflammation in the sebum-producing glands that lead to breakouts. (17)
Sleep Disorders (Insomnia, Sleep Apnea)
CBD may hold therapeutic promise for people who are not able to get a good night’s sleep. Studies found that patients reported better sleep a few hours after taking it. In relation to sleep apnea, CBD may help restore respiratory stability by modulating serotonin signaling and reducing spontaneous sleep-disordered breathing. (18)
Smoking Cessation
Tobacco is the only substance you can use that will perk you up and calm you down at the same time. That is until CBD came along. Researchers now think that it might also help smokers to quit. They believe that it can help people cut down on smoking, according to a study from the Addiction journal. (19)
Stress and PTSD
Preclinical evidence strongly supports CBD as a treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder when administered acutely. However, few studies have investigated chronic CBD dosing. CBD also increases an individual’s sense of well-being – the absence of which is called stress. (20)
Weight Loss
CBD may help rev up your metabolism. A connection between cannabinoids and an increase in metabolic rate (meaning your body burns more calories) has been found. Researchers found that CBD and cannabis users had a lower body mass index (BMI) and a lower body fat percentage than non-users. (21)
Research
The body of research about the benefits of CBD is growing exponentially. However, what has been researched and found as an effective treatment, is incredible—and thanks to changing laws, you can expect considerably more research.
Potential Interactions
There is a possible side effect for CBD and it may have a potential for interactions with other medications. Of course, this is a possible side effect for almost all medications.
There is also an indication that CBD may increase liver enzymes, which could lead to liver damage. Approximately two percent of users had to discontinue their use because of high levels of liver enzymes. More research is needed about this.
If you are currently under medical care, consult with your medical practitioner about making any changes to your current medication.
Conclusion
When I first began researching for this article, I knew nothing about CBD. But when my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, research became the single most important thing I could do. Surviving Chemo wasn’t my main goal then but it became more important when I saw the benefits my wife was gaining.
After learning about the benefits of CBD I’ve mentioned in this article, I believe CBD could help both of us. So we decided to give it a try. My wife could benefit from nausea, pain relief, and peace of mind. But for me, the main reason was the stress of providing full-time care to someone undergoing Chemo. I cannot understate the blessings we found in CBD.
Before starting, I needed to know how much CBD we should use. I also read it affects people differently. Since I believed that pure CBD could not hurt you, I took the advice to start with a moderate amount and adjust it to fit my needs.
I also read we need to remember that surviving chemo is a marathon and not a sprint. Sometimes it is hard to be patient.
The other thing we learned was to choose the right CBD. Make sure the CBE you choose is pure, organic, tested, and extracted from Hemp that is grown in the US. Some Hemp Oil is not tested and may not contain any CBD. I also learned that some products contain contaminants of all kinds. So I wanted to find the right CBD for our personal use.
I should mention that my first bottle of CBD was given to me by CBDPure. I was doing the research when I asked them about the stress of being a full-time caregiver for someone Surviving Chemo.
After trying several brands, I still believe CBDPure is the best (at least for me) on the market. Maybe it was the compassion of the staff and the thoughtfulness of giving us a bottle to try.
We started taking CBDPure 750 Softgels the day after her first Chemo treatment. I immediately felt less stress and my sense of well-being improved greatly.
When my wife started taking CBD, she had only a small episode of nausea. I could tell her stress levels had diminished considerably and she was able to rest comfortably. I could tell that Surviving Chemo was possible.
CBD has made such a big difference in my wife since her cancer. It has also helped her adoring husband. I wholeheartedly recommend this product. Surviving Chemo with CBD is our new motto.
I’m happy to report that she is fine, the cancer is gone, and we are grateful we had CBD available. I often think of what it would have been like if I had never known about CBD.
A personal message: surviving chemo without the support of friends and family is a horrible thing. If you know anyone who is going through that hell, reach out and help in any way you can.
About The Author
Tom Monson is an award-winning writer, filmmaker, and founder of Living Strong Supplements.
If you found this article interesting, you may also like Aging Gracefully, Making Money, or Health Crisis.
THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THESE PRODUCTS ARE NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE
Resources:
(1). World Health Organization: www.who.int/medicines/access/controlled-substances/CannabidiolCriticalReview.pdf
(2) A Patients guide to Medicinal Cannabis Page 84
(3) National Institute of Health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20829306/
(4) https://www.consciouslifestylemag.com/cbd-health-benefits/
(5) A Patients Guide to Medicinal Cannabis – Page 83
(6) https://www.canabomedicalclinic.com/5-health-benefits-cbd-oils/
(7) https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/cannabis-pdq#link/_76
(9) https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071023183937.htm
(9b) https://www.foriawellness.com/blogs/learn/can-cbd-oil-help-with-depression
(10). https://www.consciouslifestylemag.com/cbd-health-benefits/
(11) http://www.chanvre-info.ch/info/de/IMG/Vaney_Claude_THC_Study-1.pdf
(12) https://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm611046.htm
(14) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5470879/
(15) https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/can.2017.0012
(16) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29241357
(17) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25061872
(18) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7028792?dopt=Abstract