Almost everyone has been directly or indirectly affected by cancer. The most common form of this deadly family of diseases is skin cancer, and the most common form of skin cancer is melanoma. Melanoma is usually caused by the overexposure of skin to UV rays. Due to its aggressive nature, melanoma is widely regarded as the most dangerous form of cancer. If not treated early, melanoma can quickly metastasize in other parts of the body. A recent study has shown that melanoma cannabis treatment may help reduce the number of cancer cells in patients.
Melanoma Is A Deadly Disease
Melanoma begins as a small mole on skin that tends to grow quickly. Cancerous moles often change color and shape, so it is important to pay attention to skin marks that look irregular. It is estimated that melanoma will kill nearly 10,000 people in 2017. This form of cancer is particularly difficult to treat because it spreads so quickly. However there is some scientific evidence that introducing cannabis into a treatment plan may help slow down the growth of new melanoma cells.
Melanoma Cannabis Treatment Research
In 2015, a scientific study conducted on mice investigated whether or not cannabis could be an effective treatment against melanoma. The mice were given cannabis oil with a 1:1 CBD:THC ratio. This study concluded that this combination of cannabis molecules actually triggered the death of melanoma cells. “Our studies suggest that the plant-derived CB receptor 326 agonist THC inhibits the growth of transplanted melanoma cells 327 through antagonistic effects on its characteristic pro-inflammatory 328 microenvironment.”
This study proves that the introduction of cannabis in cancer treatment contributed to the regression of cancer cells in mice. While human trials may not yield the same results, this study provides a solid foundation for further research into melanoma cannabis treatment.
Know Your Cannabinoids
Lane is based in Southern California and is a content curator for Medical Marijuana 411. He focuses his research into finding informative stories that can help medical marijuana patients better understand their diverse medicine.