'Cannabis' may halt breast cancer.

[barrychuckle]

A compound found in cannabis may stop breast cancer spreading throughout the body, US scientists believe.

The California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute team are hopeful that cannabidiol or CBD could be a non-toxic alternative to chemotherapy.

Unlike cannabis, CBD does not have any psychoactive properties so its use would not violate laws, Molecular Cancer Therapeutics reports.

The authors stressed that they were not suggesting patients smoke marijuana.

They added that it would be highly unlikely that effective concentrations of CBD could be reached by smoking cannabis.

CBD works by blocking the activity of a gene called Id-1 which is believed to be responsible for the aggressive spread of cancer cells away from the original tumour site - a process called metastasis.

Past work has shown CBD can block aggressive human brain cancers.

The latest work found CBD appeared to have a similar effect on breast cancer cells in the lab.

Future hope

Lead researcher Dr Sean McAllister said: "Right now we have a limited range of options in treating aggressive forms of cancer.

"Those treatments, such as chemotherapy, can be effective but they can also be extremely toxic and difficult for patients.

"This compound offers the hope of a non-toxic therapy that could achieve the same results without any of the painful side effects."

Dr Joanna Owens of Cancer Research UK said: "This research is at a very early stage.

"The findings will need to be followed up with clinical trials in humans to see if the CBD is safe, and whether the beneficial effects can be replicated.

"Several cancer drugs based on plant chemicals are already used widely, such as vincristine - which is derived from a type of flower called Madagascar Periwinkle and is used to treat breast and lung cancer. It will be interesting to see whether CBD will join them."

Maria Leadbeater of Breast Cancer Care said: "Many people experience side-effects while having chemotherapy, such as nausea and an increased risk of infection, which can take both a physical and emotional toll.

"Any drug that has fewer side-effects will, of course, be of great interest."

But she added: "It is clear that much more research needs to be carried out."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7098340.stm

[Podders]

Thanks for that, sweet to read

"Maria Leadbeater of Breast Cancer Care said:..."

As they say "Maria, la novia que nunca te deja", Mary the girlfriend that'll never leave ya :)

[Steeldiehard]

This is amazing news and has been reported in many research projects over the years as well.

I know this may sound as if I'm stating as a matter of convenience; however, here it goes:

In the US (maybe elsewhere and maybe only my hometown) there is a common saying which goes something like this: "what will you be doing...curing cancer?" Typically said to someone who does not accept an invite to go out socially when a friend asks...also said in jest. I used to say this a lot...much less now, since hey, ya never know if the person actually has cancer...and I don't really want to offend.

Anyway, I dropped acid a few times when I was around 17ish years old. I love acid...the way it made me feel...everything I saw had another dimension...almost unreal...just amazing in my opinion. I took it maybe 3 times in my young life and have not taken it since (i'm very certain that I will again now that I'm 40ish...just tried shrooms for the first time a couple months ago). Back to the point...sometime shortly after my acid experiences, I became consciously aware of the "curing cancer" saying and started asking myself why after so many years of research has there not been a cure for cancer (maybe there is and its buried in secrecy & bureaucracy)?

So much technology and brilliant people working year in and year out trying to find a cure. Are they looking in the right place for a cure? (I'd think) Maybe research is overlooking one of the most common resources on the planet. I know what ya'll are probably thinking...Steel is gonna say Cannabis. :) Nope. I was thinking plain, ordinary grass. Grass is just about everywhere...it's resourceful, can take a beating and keep coming back year after year...it must have some incredible properties to be so resourceful.

I guess I was thinking of the wrong kind of grass. :) Based on what I've learned over the years about Cannabis, I'm not surprised at all that this wonderful plant will contribute to saving people from the suffering of cancer.

As Chris Bennett (Canadian activist and author) often quotes from the Bible:
"...and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations". Rev.22.2

Peace,

Steel

[cutlerface7]

thats great, yet another use in the bag!
plus cannabis has been used to help chemotherpy patients!