Medical cannabis for treating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
Having to deal with the nausea and vomiting that comes with treatments like chemotherapy can create even more worry and fear for patients who are already facing a terrifying cancer diagnosis. Anyone who has had a sickness bug before will know the feeling of trying to hold down food when nothing seems appetizing. It’s hard enough when you’re under the weather—but when you have cancer? It’s almost unbearable.
Here at the London Cannabis Clinic, we’re going to take a closer look at how you can treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting with medical cannabis. Read on to find out more.
What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. It works by damaging the cancer cells’ DNA so that they can’t divide and grow, making it a common treatment method for many types of cancer.
When you have chemotherapy, you are likely to experience side effects such as nausea and vomiting from the drugs themselves. However, it’s also possible to experience side effects like nausea due to damage caused to other parts of your body from the chemo or radiation, like to your stomach lining.
Why does chemotherapy cause nausea and vomiting?
Chemotherapy drugs can cause nausea and vomiting in a number of ways. The drug may affect the way your body senses taste and smell, causing food to taste bland or even bad. It might also make your mouth feel dry, which can make it hard to eat.
Chemotherapy can also cause dehydration. This can lead to fatigue, dizziness and loss of appetite as well as constipation. It can also cause vomiting in extreme cases.
The nausea caused by chemotherapy is usually related directly to how much chemotherapy has been given over time; however, some people experience ongoing nausea even after their treatment has ended because they continue taking medications designed specifically for this purpose.
How medical cannabis can help with nausea and vomiting?
Medical cannabis is great for preventing feelings of nausea and sickness, as it produces a numbing effect within the body that protects the user from uncomfortable sensations.
Chemotherapy can be a scary treatment, especially when you take into account the different side effects. But if you or someone you love is going through chemotherapy, ask your doctor about medical marijuana as an option, or visit The London Cannabis Clinic today.