Get a West Virginia Medical Marijuana Card for Cancer-Related Symptoms
What is Cancer?
Cancer is one of the most common illnesses in the United States, and the second leading cause of death in West Virginia.
Cancer is a disease that involves the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. Cancer can invade your body, damage tissues surrounding cells, and if treatment is not effective, cancers can metastasize into other areas causing more destruction.
An Overview of Medical Marijuana for Cancer
Cancer is diagnosed in stages I-IV, with some cancers being treatable and some cancers being untreatable. In some cases, surgery may be required to remove cancerous tumors or growths, and in other cases tumors will be treated with prescription medication or chemotherapies or radiation therapies.
Medical marijuana has been found to possess anti-cancer properties for certain types of cancers, and it shows great promise in treating certain cancer-related symptoms.
Studies have shown that the use of medical cannabis can lessen some side effects from aggressive cancer treatments, helping to counter certain side effects such as weight loss or appetite loss, as well as helping with nausea and wasting syndrome.
How is Cancer Treated?
It's important to know the difference between different types of cancers, as well as their appropriate treatments. The type of cancer you have will determine what combination of treatments or therapies are prescribed for your specific situation.
Often radiation therapy or chemotherapy are part of a prescribed regimen, with other options being available depending on which treatment works best for the particular type of cancer that you have.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are often the most volatile treatment options for cancers, though in many cases they are the most effective forms of treatment.
Unfortunately, both chemotherapy and radiation therapy can have a seriously negative impact on your body and immune system, causing nausea, hair loss, and severe weakness that can lead to secondary symptoms such as anxiety and depression.
How Can Medical Marijuana Help with Cancer?
Medical marijuana can help reduce the side effects of cancer treatments, and in some cases, it has even been shown to be an effective treatment for certain types of cancers.
Cannabinoids in the cannabis plant have anti-cancer properties, promoting the inhibition of cancer growth through apoptosis, or cancer cell death, and by inducing certain cancer cell suicides through autophagy, where cancer cells digest themselves.
Since cannabis’ effects on cancer cells is largely unknown, many patients use medical marijuana to primarily treat the side effects of either the cancer, or of the cancer treatment.
It is not yet clear how the cannabinoids work to target cancerous cells, but they do not seem to affect healthy or non-cancerous cells. This offers a potential for a much more efficient way of treating cancers in future, though there needs thorough research into this mechanism before we have a clear indication of how it operates.
Is Medical Marijuana Right for Cancer?
side effects of traditional therapies like chemotherapy and radiation therapy, medical cannabis is also used as an effective way to relieve pain and nausea in those going through tough fighting rounds against this disease.
Cannabis has also been used to help combat chronic pain, PTSD, depression, and anxiety, which cancer patients can find themselves dealing with in addition to their primary illness.
There are even two synthetic drugs designed to work similarly to the plant’s natural cannabinoids, dronabinol and nabilone.
Many patients report using natural cannabis compounds in combination with chemotherapy or radiation as a more effective treatment option when compared side-by-side with their synthetic counterparts, though each patient will be different in how medications interact with their body.
Get a West Virginia Medical Marijuana for Cancer and Treatment Related Symptoms
It's easy to understand why cancer is one of the most difficult diseases in America. The treatments that patients receive vary depending on their type and diagnosis, but it can be a lifelong battle for many Americans who are diagnosed with cancer every year, and some even lose their lives because there weren't enough treatment options available.
It’s no surprise that West Virginia has approved cancer as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana, so that people who suffer from this terrible disease can finally get access to potentially life-changing medicine.
Medical marijuana is a very promising treatment option for cancer patients and offers a natural and organic approach to treating cancer and treatment-related side effects.
Talk to our staff at West Virginia Marijuana Card. We can walk you through the path of getting medical marijuana to help with cancer.
Our patient support team can be reached at (833) 253-2943 to answer any questions you may have about getting medical marijuana for cancer in West Virginia.
Get Your West Virginia Medical Marijuana Card
in Four Easy Steps!
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Step 1
Schedule a telemedicine appointment by calling us at (877) 303-8424.
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Step 2
Meet virtually with one of our certified physicians through telemedicine to discuss your medical history.
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Step 3
With the doctor's approval, you'll receive your recommendation for a West Virginia medical marijuana card!