Liver
AND THE EFFECTS OF CANNABIS
BY HEATHER DEROSE
WITH SURGERY OR TRANSPLANT BEING SOME PATIENTS ONLY OPTION, MANY ARE TURNING TO CANNABIS FOR ITS ANTICANCER EFFECTS 52
Among one of the most important organs in the human body is the liver. The liver filters blood coming from the digestive tract before passing it to the rest of the body. The organ also detoxifies chemicals and metabolizes drugs. During its functioning, the liver secretes bile which goes into the intestines. You cannot live without a liver, but you can live with only part of one. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates about 42,030 new cases of liver cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year and approximately 32,000 people will pass away because of these cancers. They also say liver cancer occurrence has more than tripled since 1980 and develops more often in men than in women. Liver cancer is more common in other countries outside the U.S. and over 800,000 people are diagnosed with liver cancer each year worldwide. The most common risk for liver cancer is infection from the hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV), which lead to cirrhosis of the liver. Cirrhosis of the liver is when the liver cells become damaged and are replaced during the recovery process by scar tissue. In addition, the risk of developing liver cancer is higher if one consumes several alcoholic drinks a day.1 Liver cancer prevention includes reducing your risk of cirrhosis by eliminating or limiting alcohol and maintaining a healthy weight. One can also reduce their risk by preventing hepatitis B and C.
