"In Switzerland they want me for surgery of the prostate, which I refuse, because I can’t believe in healing. I intend to come to California, to treat my cancer with THC/CBD. Does that make sense? Do I have any chance, to beat my cancer with such a therapy?"
Studies on Medical Marijuana for Prostate Cancer and Other Cancers
Because Marijuana is illegal in the Federal US, it is hard to get proper clinical studies on this medication. In terms of prostate cancer, results from a study at the University of Wisconsin suggest that cannabinoid receptor agonists could be developed as a treatment for prostate cancer.
A study (2) at Harvard University found that marijuana has an anti-tumor effect. The study was on mice that had been injected with human lung cancer. They injected the mice with THC for three weeks. They found that the THC in marijuana cut common lung cancer tumor growth in half and inhibited the ability of the cancer to spread. There was a reduction in cancerous lesions on the lung by 60%. The group was compared to a placebo.
In recent discussions, scientists reported that THC and other cannabinoids such as CBD (cannabidiol) can kill or slow the growth of certain cancer cells growing in laboratory dishes. Some studies involving animals also suggest certain cannabinoids may slow growth and reduce spread of some forms of cancer. The problem is that these substances have not been tested in humans. At this time there is not any scientific evidence from US controlled studies in humans that cannabinoids can cure or treat cancer in people.
In 2008, a team of scientists in a combined effort between Spain, France, and Italy conducted laboratory tests that they published in The Journal Of Clinical Investigation. The researchers showed THC as a cure for brain cancer as well as had the ability to terminate other cancer cells in the body. They found that THC inhibits cell death and tumor metastasis while not affecting and maybe even protecting normal cells.
(1) Cannabinoid Receptor as a Novel Target for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer
Sami Sarfaraz, Farrukh Afaq, Vaqar M. Adhami, Hasan Mukhtar
DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-04-3410 Published 1 March 2005
(2) American Association for Cancer Research. "Marijuana Cuts Lung Cancer Tumor Growth In Half, Study Shows." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 April 2007. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm>.
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