What Women Need to Know About Cannabis Cervical Health
In 2017, which was the most recent year for which incidence data are available, there were 12,831 new cases of Cervical Cancer reported among women in the United States 4,207 women died of this cancer. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States, following heart disease, with one of every four deaths in the United States is due to cancer. [1]
The United States Congress designated January as Cervical Health Awareness Month because while more and more women are being diagnosed, the disease is preventable with vaccination and appropriate screening.
Many cervical cancer patients have turned to Medical Marijuana in order to gain symptom relief and say that it benefits them in several ways. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, you can qualify for your Florida Medical Marijuana Card and legally purchase medical marijuana products from a dispensary, also known as a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center.
Medicines based on certain chemicals in marijuana, like Epidolex, could also be used to treat patients for whom such therapies have failed. THC also shows a promising role in the treatment of cancer growth, neurodegenerative diseases, and other debilitating conditions.
Importance of Cervical Health
The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus that forms a canal between the uterus and vagina. A female’s cervical cells are most susceptible to abnormal cell growth at puberty, during their first pregnancy, and a few weeks following the birth of a child.
In blatant terms, the cervix is essentially the door to the uterus where sperm can travel through to fertilize eggs. If you are not carrying a child, the cervix helps keep unhealthy things out of one’s body. While pregnant, the cervix helps keep the baby in place until it’s fully developed.
Women should get annual checkups to ensure that they have good cervical health. Cervical cancer screening is typically part of a woman’s health checkup. There are two types of tests to check for cervical cancer: the Pap test and the HPV test.
For both, the doctor or nurse collects cells from the surface of the cervix. With the Pap test, the lab checks for cancer cells or abnormal cells that could develop into cancer later; whereas with the HPV test, the lab checks the sample for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. HPV is a virus that spreads through sexual contact and can sometimes lead to cancer.
There are many types of HPV and almost all cervical cancers are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), Some HPV types can cause changes on a woman’s cervix that can lead to cervical cancer over time, while other types can cause genital or skin warts. It is so common that most people get it at some time in their lives.
Cervical cancer is treated in several ways. It depends on the kind of cervical cancer and how far it has spread. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. By staying up to date with annual testing, women have the ability to identify a potential issue before it develops into something uncontrollable.
To reduce your risk of cervical cancer:
- Ask your doctor about the HPV vaccine. Receiving a vaccination to prevent HPV infection could reduce the risk of cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers. Consult with your doctor to determine whether an HPV vaccine is for you.
- Don’t skip the routine Pap tests. Pap tests can detect precancerous conditions of the cervix, so they can be monitored or treated in order to prevent cervical cancer. Routine Pap tests should begin at age 21 and must be repeated every few years.
- Practice safe sex. Taking measures to prevent sexually transmitted infections can reduce your risk of cervical cancer. Thease measures can include using a condom every time you have sex and limiting the number of sexual partners you have.
The ECS and the Female Reproductive System
The Endocannabinoid system (ECS) consists of endogenous cannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes. While it is known to modulate pain and neurodevelopment, it is also known to impact the female reproductive system where it affects folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation, and ovarian endocrine secretion. Additionally, the ECS affects oviductal embryo transport, implantation, uterine decidualization and placentation. There is a complex relationship between the ECS and the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, as well as between the ECS and steroid hormone production and secretion. [2]
Several studies in recent years have shown that dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system is associated with the development of disorders of the female reproductive tract. [3] These include fertility disorders like endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and gynecological cancers.
Researchers note a complex relationship between the endocannabinoid system with the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and the ovarian axis, with CB1 receptors modulating numerous complex activities. While the phytocannabinoids are shown to potentially disrupt female reproduction by decreasing estrogen and progesterone hormone levels, ECS involvement in female reproduction shows modulation of the ECS is essential for reproductive success.
How Cannabis Can Help with Cervical Health
While some research has shown that cannabis has a direct impact on cancerous cells, there has not been enough completed to conclude it is a cure. Those who are suffering from cancer, such as cervical cancer, can however manage their cancer-related symptoms with the help of medical marijuana.
Common symptoms for those experiencing cervical cancer can include:
- Bleeding during/after sexual intercourse
- Watery, bloody vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odor
- Bleeding after menopause
- Pelvic pain
- Pain during urination
- Increased frequency in urination
Medical marijuanan can help manage the following symptoms of both cervical cancer and the treatment associated with it:
- Pain relief
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weight loss from difficulty swallowing
- Chemotherapy-related fatigue
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Depression
The two most common symptoms to cancer treatment are nausea and pain relief. Several studies have shown cannabis can help manage the symptoms of both.
Nausea and vomiting
Cannabinoids have been studied in the treatment of nausea and vomiting caused by cancer or cancer treatment:
- Delta-9-THC taken by mouth: Two FDA-approved cannabinoid drugs, dronabinol and nabilone are given to treat nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy in patients who have not responded to standard antiemetic therapy.
- Oral spray with delta-9-THC and CBD: Nabiximols, a Cannabis extract given as a mouth spray, was shown in a small clinical trial in Spain to treat nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.
- Inhaled Cannabis: Ten small trials have studied inhaled Cannabis for the treatment of nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.
Pain relief
Cannabis and cannabinoids have been studied in the treatment of pain:
- Inhaled Cannabis: Randomized controlled trials of inhaled Cannabis in patients with pain found pain was reduced in patients who received inhaled Cannabis compared with those who received placebo.
- Cannabis plant extract: A study of Cannabis extract that was sprayed under the tongue found it helped patients with advanced cancer whose pain was not relieved by prescribed opioids alone. In another study, patients who were given lower doses of cannabinoid spray showed better pain control and less sleep loss than patients who received a placebo. Control of cancer-related pain in some patients was better without the need for higher doses of Cannabis extract spray or higher doses of their other pain medicines.
- Delta-9-THC taken by mouth: There have been two small clinical trials of oral delta-9-THC that showed it can relieve cancer pain. In the first study, patients had good pain relief, less nausea and vomiting, and better appetite. The second study showed that delta-9-THC could relieve pain as well as codeine. Another observational study of nabilone showed that it relieved cancer pain along with nausea, anxiety, and distress when compared with no treatment. Neither dronabinol nor nabilone is approved by the FDA for pain relief.
Overall, cervical cancer can cause uncomfortable health concerns that are only temporarily masked by prescription medications. Consulting with a Florida Medical Marijuana Doctor can help you decide if a medical marijuana regimen will help improve your overall quality of life.
[1] U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. U.S. Cancer Statistics Data Visualizations Tool, based on 2019 submission data (1999-2017): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute; www.cdc.gov/cancer/dataviz, released in June 2020.
[3]https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/499164#ref90
[4[https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/
[5]https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/basic_info/diagnosis_treatment.htm