Cannabis When There is No Cure

If you or a loved one is facing a serious illness, you may be looking beyond conventional medicine to control symptoms and improve quality of life. Medical cannabis is a palliative option that could be explored for chronic pain, nausea, muscle spasms, anxiety, insomnia and lack of appetite.

Monica’s Story

Monica Enderlin shares her story of how cannabis helped her mother, Louise.

Monica’s mother had metastatic breast cancer. In November 2015, Monica’s mother was experiencing chest pain. A CT scan showed breast cancer that had spread to the bone. It was her mother’s third bout of breast cancer, which was successfully treated twice before. This time, Louise decided not to have traditional treatment.

She suffered from pain and loss of appetite. By the spring of 2016, Monica’s mother was unable to eat. “She was feeling full and nauseous all the time,” says Monica. Prescription anti-nausea medications didn’t work. She was also still having pain and was taking acetaminophen with codeine, which had side effects such as constipation and fogginess. “She just didn’t feel well taking them.”

The doctor suggested medical cannabis. Monica’s doctor connected them with an authorized licensed producer. Two days later, she received her cannabis oil. The family consulted CanniMed’s in-house pharmacist for advice on dosing. “He was so supportive. Every time we had a question, he was there. He would take phone calls and email us back right away. We never had to wait. We were so impressed with him.”

Cannimed^® Oil was consistent and easy to use. For those with weakened immune systems, choosing a trusted cannabis source is especially important. It should be grown in a controlled, sanitary environment and be tested for bacteria, toxins and moulds. Monica stresses, “With CanniMed, it’s all standardized, so we knew exactly what she was getting every time and we knew it would have the same effect.” She gave her mother a small amount orally by syringe and slowly tweaked the dosage based on how Louise felt and how long it took the pain to return.

She needed fewer painkillers. Opioid pain medications, like codeine, can cause a patient to “drift away,” lose interest in the world and dull their personality. Once Louise started using cannabis, she became more like herself again, she seemed clearer than when she took the painkillers and even reduced her usage to two pills a week.

Monica is grateful for the quality time. Monica wishes more people knew about the benefits of cannabis. “It allowed us to be with our Mum and have quality of life with her pretty much right to the end. There was nothing that would stop us from doing that again or recommending it to somebody else.” Up until a week before she passed, Louise was cared for by her loving family in the comfort of home. “She was in her own room, in her own bed—and happy.”

CARP members receive a $50 credit upon registration as a new CanniMed patient and 5% off Patient Direct Pricing or current best price offer, on medical cannabis products.

This advertorial was produced with the generous support of CanniMed. Learn more at CanniMed.ca