Can taking CBD be beneficial in the fight against cancer?

In France, according to figures released by the League Against Cancer, there were approximately 400,000 new cases of cancer in 2018. In addition to challenges regarding effectiveness, the treatments used often come with a number of very debilitating side effects. In fact, many patients are seeking more natural alternatives that are less toxic to the body, such as cannabis. For example, in addition to its soothing, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects, CBD is said to be a very effective aid in relieving symptoms caused by treatments for severe cancers. Studies also show a close relationship between this more natural solution and the proliferation of cancer cells. You’ll find more information on this topic in this article. 

Cancer is the process of abnormal cell growth in tissues. An abnormal cell—known as an initiator cell—possesses certain properties, including the ability to divide indefinitely, and will form a mass of tissue called a tumor.
 

Cancer cells can eventually spread throughout the body to form metastases. This is an indicator of how the disease is progressing. Unfortunately, there are many types of cancer, and cancer rates in our societies continue to rise. In fact, there are an average of 385,000 new cases in France each year. The causes or risk factors can be internal (genome, mutation) or external, often linked to environmental factors (radiation, smoking, alcohol abuse, etc.).

Cancer can start anywhere in the body, and the risk of developing cancer varies from person to person: risk factors depend on genetic, environmental, and social factors. Symptoms vary depending on where in the body the cancer cells appear. People with cancer usually experience one or more of the following symptoms, depending on the type of cancer:

• Coughing up blood 
• Changes in bowel movements/urination
• Blood in the stool
• Unexplained Anemia
• Breast lump or breast discharge
• Lump in the testicles
• Swollen or persistent lymph nodes
• Unexplained weight loss
• Night sweats/fever
• Wounds That Are Difficult to Heal
• Back or pelvic pain, bloating, or indigestion.

Please note that cannabis is not a medication. To claim that CBD is a cure for cancer—despite the fact that conventional medicine has failed in this regard, particularly in advanced stages—would be absurd. Although cannabis is increasingly used to treat many conditions, it should be noted that it is its ability to alleviate symptoms and make patients’ lives more comfortable that makes cannabidiol a contributor to well-being in this context.

Side effects of cancer typically include severe pain, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and depression. These symptoms are generally believed to be alleviated by CBD in patients with these conditions.

The anti-inflammatory effects of medical cannabis can relieve pain. However, cancer treatment is often painful not only because of inflammation, but also due to nerve damage, breathing difficulties, and pressure on the affected organs.

As an alternative to the side effects of depression treatment, CBD is also known for its effects on this condition. In fact, studies have shown an increase in serotonin levels when taking cannabidiol-based products. This phenomenon is believed to improve patients’ well-being by increasing their sense of happiness.
 

Patients with lung cancer or cancer in other organs generally experience stress and anxiety caused by this very difficult-to-cope-with disease. Anxiety can also make it difficult to fall asleep. These are two symptoms that hemp-based products, such as CBD oil, can help relieve—whether or not the patient has cancer.

Other studies show that certain cannabinoids may reduce the sensation of nausea often associated with chemotherapy. However, these claims require further clinical trials to determine the effects of medical cannabis.

Rather than being a treatment in and of itself, CBD may make it easier to cope with existing cancer treatments. By alleviating the symptoms and side effects of chemotherapy and other harsh treatments, CBD could help patients significantly improve their quality of life.

In fact, it is the effects of cancer and its treatments that have the greatest impact on the well-being of patients with the disease. Whether it’s chronic pain, nausea and vomiting, or the patient’s mental state, CBD may offer some relief from this condition, which remains very difficult to treat.

In France, for example, certain CBD- and THC-based medications, such as Sativex, are already prescribed by doctors to relieve symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis when standard treatments fail.

In a 2020 Bulgarian study, the research team examined the evidence supporting the use of CBD in the treatment of various types of cancer. 

• Breast Cancer

CBD appears to have an inhibitory effect on breast cancer cells, particularly the MCF-7 cell line, which is often used in research on anticancer drugs. Researchers have found that CBD appears to be more effective than other cannabinoids at halting the spread of breast cancer cells.

• Lung Cancer

Research conducted in 2012 showed that CBD may affect the mechanism that prevents the spread of lung cancer. The same research team also reported that CBD may promote the death of cancer cells in primary lung cancer cells.

• Prostate Cancer

Test-tube experiments on various prostate cell lines have shown that CBD reduces the expression of androgen receptors. This appears to have a significant impact on the development and progression of prostate cancer. Inhibiting the activity of these receptors could slow the progression of prostate cancer.

There are several forms of administration: spray, capsules, pure oil extract, creams, and lotions. It’s important to note that for a CBD product to be legal, it must contain less than 0.3% THC.

It is recommended to take a few drops of the pure oil extract under the tongue each day. When taken sublingually, the molecule is absorbed through the capillaries and very quickly enters the bloodstream and then the jugular veins. As a result, it is not broken down during digestion and takes effect quickly.

The taste of CBD can be hard to handle for some people, although you can usually get used to it. In that case, capsules may be a good option. Capsules have another advantage: they’re pre-measured. We know exactly how much CBD extract we’re consuming. However, the digestive tract causes the CBD to lose its effectiveness quickly.

If you can tolerate the sublingual oil form, it’s still the best—cleanest and most direct—way to take CBD. Choose oils made from plant extracts that are certified for quality and contain no pesticides or synthetic preservatives in the finished product. But hemp doesn’t really require chemicals during cultivation: it’s a hardy plant that grows very quickly.

The idea is to let the product sit under your tongue for one minute to fully saturate the capillaries, and it's best to do this between meals.

When applied to the skin to treat joint pain, nerve pain, and skin conditions (such as itching and burns, particularly those caused by medical treatments), CBD is said to be very effective and to take effect immediately. The oil extract can be applied directly to the affected area.
 

Oils vary in their CBD concentration: one drop contains between 2 and 20 mg of CBD, depending on the dosage (5 to 40% CBD extract in the extraction oil).
 

It is generally recommended to take 1 to 6 mg of CBD per 5 kg, in one or two doses per day, and to increase the dose as needed. For example, a 70-kg user could start with 15 mg per day and increase the dose slowly based on the results—waiting 4 days before increasing (if no symptoms appear).

Please note that rare drug interactions have been reported. Therefore, we recommend that you ask your doctor whether your medication has any known interactions with certain food groups. If the medication’s package insert states that grapefruit is prohibited, it is generally because CBD should also be avoided.

Research into cancer treatment in humans does not stop there; it continues. In fact, CBD may be useful in treating cancer in animals that can develop the same types of cancer as humans.
 

As in humans, the presence of CBD in an animal’s body reduces the spread of cancer cells and helps shrink tumors by affecting the immune system in all types of mammals. In fact, cancer treatment in animals is carried out through chemotherapy and therefore causes the same side effects as in humans. The use of CBD could thus help reduce these gastrointestinal symptoms. Furthermore, CBD may help relieve pain thanks to its anti-inflammatory effect.

This allows us to make fairly reliable statements about the effects of CBD on cancer cells. Indeed, this in-depth cancer research has demonstrated the potential benefits of this molecule for this type of disease. Furthermore, the absence of side effects following cannabidiol consumption could provide gentle relief and promote the patient’s well-being.

Thus, CBD may help eliminate the side effects of chemotherapy (nausea, vomiting, chronic pain) and also reduce the proliferation of cancer cells in the body, with very few contraindications. Furthermore, the psychoactive effects of cannabidiol can destroy cancer cells during treatment. This type of adjuvant therapy is effective for most cancers, whether used to treat humans or even animals.