LIVER CANCER + THE EFFECTS OF CANNABIS

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.

According to the Mayo Clinic the current liver cancer treatment options range from surgery, such as liver transplant, to ablative therapies: chemotherapy, radiation therapy and biological therapy. 2 Cancer that spreads to the liver is more common than cancer that begins in the organ itself, this is called metastatic cancer.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is present in the liver and is involved in the control of various liver functions. According to the study, “Endocannabinoids in Liver Disease,” cannabinoids may offer therapeutic benefit in reducing liver injury and promoting tissue repair in fibrotic liver. 3 Cannabinoids and the ECS are implicated in stopping cancers to develop in blood vessels, slowing cancer growth and spreading, and causing death of cancer cells. Some studies suggest abnormal regulation in one’s ECS may promote cancer by allowing certain conditions that allow cancer cells to increase and spread throughout the body. 4 There is a growing body of preclinical studies showing cannabinoids providing anticancer effects in regulation of cancer growth and spreading of cancer cells. 5

With thousands of people losing their lives every year to liver cancer and studies showing cannabis has the ability to help slow the growth and prevent spreading of cancer cells, there’s a growing number of people choosing cannabinoid therapy for treatment. Some patients may need to have surgery to remove the tumor or have a liver transplant if they’re in an late stage of liver cancer. By adding cannabinoid therapy, patients can also receive the benefits of cannabis to promote recovery. Some patients may require additional treatment after surgery such as chemotherapy, and cannabis has been shown to help patients stimulate appetite and provide comfort to the nausea caused by the treatment.

Another study found that the use of cannabinoids protects the liver from binge drinking by reducing oxidative stress and increasing regeneration of cells. 6 This information has patients turning to cannabis to provide protection and to aid in liver cancer diagnosis. With surgery or transplant being some patients only option, many are turning to cannabis for its anticancer effects. If a natural plant medicine, such as cannabis, can work so effectively within the body against damage and cancer cell growth, it should be available for all patients, and doctors to try and learn more about it in their prevention and treatment plans. Changing the scheduling of cannabis at a federal level would greatly increase the opportunities to learn and help more people throughout the U.S.