Because medical marijuana isn't legal here I'm just asking hypothetical questions. Does it help? How does it help (pain, appetite, nausea)? What did your doctors have to say about it (open or closed to the idea)? How did you partake? Any concerns about vaporizing vs. ingesting?

We are coming up on week 3 and the roughest part is looming ahead.

My personal opinion is that MJ is very helpful.
Take a look at this thread on OCF: OCF posts
Smoking is a definite no no. Vaporizing was covered in this study Norml - Volcano study
Yeah, being illegal sucks. Hypothetically, I know a "friend" who has used the Volcano since diagnosis and it has let "him" conquer nausea, have an appetite, and drastically reduce prescription opiate drugs. But since it's illegal, direct open advocacy is not a viable option. But as I have posted before, each and every State that has instituted medical marijuana acknowledges its efficacy for cancer patients. The Federal government has had to overturn its administrative law judges findings and ignore every Presidential fact finding committee's recommendations to simply insist that although the DEA will not allow any studies, the lack of such studies proves their delusion. Catch 22.
Doctors are as blind as blind can be on this issue, either drinking the DEA Kool-Aid, or pushing bogus substitutes like Marinol. It's Don't Ask, Don't Tell here in the USA.
Ingestion is also a good alternative.
Keep the Faith
Charm

If you don't want to spend the coin on the Volcano the Vtower is a less expensive alternative. Ingestion I'm not a fan of but have had a friend who swore by it like a time release method. Vaporizing allows more control . Appetite, mood, outlook, nausea, pain , sleep are benefits experienced by "some" . I'm an advocate of its use and hope that someday our federal government eases up on its use.

Eric

Thank you Eric and Charm. Anyone else out there with an opinion who is reluctant to share pubically, for or against, please PM me. Charm -- the thread you link to is the one that inspired the new post. I just didn't want to hijack it. Thanks guys.

I'm so glad we have Charm and Eric to share their personal experiences and thoughts on Medical MJ. If I had known about the the benefits of Medical MJ when my son was going through the worst of his Rad Tx, and seeing how he was suffering with all the symptoms mentioned above, I would have done ANYTHING to find him some relief! My feeling is that "whatever works, DO it!"

Ron eats like crazy when he does partake in it. Wish he would do it more often really.

I'll add to the yes vote. Although I didn't use it much, and it is legal here so nothing was stopping me, it's surely helpful for appetite issues. Can't speak to its nausea-abating properties.

I also know that some people here have had bad/ineffectual experiences with the synthetic version, which in the States is called Marinol. My RO prescribed it for me and I found it helpful, so if that's an avenue for you to pursue you might think about it.

As far as vaporizing vs. eating.... never tried the former but the latter seemed effective to me. Just don't smoke the stuff!

Very helpful for nausea, appetite, anxiety, sleeplessness, comfort, all around benefit to the patient!!!!
Wish it were legalized all over.
Vaproizer has no real smell (so i hear)

Never used Medical Marijuana, just recreational MJ, & THC (active ingredient), which does increase appetite, sense of well-being, relaxes mind & body, but smoking is as harmful as tobacco.
Effects diminish over use, so always have to increase dosage.
Ingestion is slower, more relaxed, never heard of study of benifit: need to pressure govt. to do so, but Right Wing will resist mightily.

Paul

Great humor in this post two days before surgery ( yeah, that non medical marijuana - so different from medical). Seriously,.
Sorry to hear about a third time but trite as it sounds (and perhaps even annoying as I found it then -not so much now)
the fighting spirit you show in today's posts bodes well.
Oh, and after you beat the cancer again, then of course you would never smoke MJ, just vaporize it or continue your ingestion.
Charm