Published in Cancer.gov
Branches of the government beginning to crack open floodgates, damn to break soon.
ThisĀ complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) information summary provides an overview of the use ofĀ CannabisĀ and its components as a treatment for people withĀ cancer -relatedĀ symptoms caused by the disease itself or its treatment.
This summary contains the following key information:
- CannabisĀ has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years prior to its current status as an illegal substance.
- Chemical components ofĀ Cannabis, called cannabinoids,Ā activate specificĀ receptors found throughout the body to produce pharmacologic effects, particularly in theĀ central nervous system and theĀ immune system
- Cannabinoids may have benefits in the treatment of cancer-relatedĀ side effects.
Many of the medical andĀ scientific terms used in this summary are hypertext linked (at first use in each section) to theĀ NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms, which is oriented toward nonexperts. When a linked term is clicked, a definition will appear in a separate window. All linked terms and their corresponding definitions will appear in a glossary in the printable version of the summary.
Reference citations in someĀ PDQ CAM information summaries may include links to external Web sites that are operated by individuals or organizations for the purpose of marketing or advocating the use of specific treatments or products. These reference citations are included for informational purposes only. Their inclusion should not be viewed as an endorsement of the content of the Web sites, or of any treatment or product, by the PDQ Cancer CAM Editorial Board or theĀ National Cancer Institute.
