UNDERSTANDING LEUKEMIA + THE BENEFITS OF CANNABIS

Leukemia does not discriminate. It knows no age, nor color; it can affect anyone. Leukemia is a type of cancer that occurs in the bloodforming tissues of the body including the bone marrow and lymphatic system. Bone marrow is the spongy material inside our bones where our blood cells are made. The lymphatic system is what processes the body’s waste products and transports lymph, a fluid rich in which blood cells, throughout the body to assist in fighting infections. Since white blood cells are the body’s defense to fight infection this makes treating leukemia very complex.

Leukemia is classified in two ways, 1 the first of which is by how fast it progresses and whether or not the leukemia is acute or chronic. Acute diseases have a fast and intense onset, compared to chronic diseases which are slow-building conditions. Secondarily, leukemia is classified by the specific type of white blood cell that is being attacked.

There are four main types of leukemia:

● Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL): most commonly seen in children, but it can also occur in adults.

● Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): most common in adults but can also be seen in children.

● Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): Adults diagnosed with CLL may have minimal symptoms for several years before needing treatment. It is the most common form of chronic leukemia in adults.

● Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML): is slow-growing, but it can change into a fast-growing, hard-to-treat cancer overnight.

There is also a rare type of leukemia called hairy cell leukemia 2 that receives its name from the cell’s hairy appearance when viewed through a microscope. It occurs more commonly in men and older adults but is not as common as the four main types of leukemia described above.

Treatment is often timely and very aggressive. The treatment is dependent on the type of leukemia the patient has. A physician determines the best course of treatment based on factors like age and overall health. Chemotherapy is the most used form of treatment for leukemia. Chemotherapy 3 is a treatment that can be given via intravenous infusion, by mouth, through the skin, or by injection. Chemicals are used to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. While this treatment is very effective for killing cancer cells, the toll that it takes on the patient’s body is nothing to ignore.

“Chemo brain” is one of the most common complaints from patients receiving chemotherapy. A recent study done at Stanford University 4 showed three different types of cells in the brain being affected causing cognitive impairment. Symptoms of chemotherapy include memory loss, irritability, mental fogginess, and difficulty multitasking. These symptoms make school difficult for children and that difficulty continues as an adult, making simple tasks like holding down a fulltime job difficult for adults long after treatment. These symptoms can last for months and up to years, and the side effects of chemotherapy

vary from person to person. In addition to chemo brain, there are physical side effects including nausea and vomiting, hair loss, infection, anemia, weight changes, numbness and tingling, and fertility problems. 5

Another method of treatment for leukemia is radiation therapy. This treatment uses high doses of radiation to shrink tumors or kill cancer cells. Occasionally, surrounding healthy tissue can be damaged during radiation therapy. Radiation can be done internally or externally. It is offered as a treatment in conjunction with chemotherapy or on its own. It can be used prior to surgery, during surgery, or after surgery. Something to note about radiation is there are lifetime dose limitations. A physician will make the recommendation of what the maximum dose that can be received will be on a case-bycase basis.

Stem cell treatment is also used for the treatment of leukemia. A stem cell transplant replaces the diseased bone marrow with healthy cells. The patient must first undergo radical radiation and/or chemotherapy to destroy the diseased cells. Afterward, a transfusion is done of blood-forming stem cells. A stem cell transplant is very similar to a bone marrow transplant. Infection and bleeding are both risks and side effects common to stem cell treatments.

A less discussed but much needed part of treatment is the need for mental health support during leukemia treatment. Coping can be difficult, so having a good support system is vital. Seeking assistance via counseling or support groups is highly recommended. The more a patient understands the disease process, the easier they can cope with the process and need for treatment.

In recent years, an increased amount of research on using cannabis as medicine has changed the treatment options for leukemia patients. The effects of cannabinoids are proving to have a major effect on leukemia. In a study 6 done at the University of London and published in the International Journal of Oncology, doctors discovered that THC (Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) killed leukemia cells. They also noted that, if used in conjunction with chemotherapy, the success rate improved significantly.

Another study 7 done at Complutense University in Madrid, Spain in 2003, showed the direct benefit of palliative care from using cannabis to assist with the side effects and symptoms that chemotherapy causes. Scientists noted that cannabinoid treatment was capable of relieving nausea and vomiting, providing pain relief, and stimulating the appetite. Science also showed the anti-tumor capabilities of cannabinoids in laboratory animals. Cannabinoids caused death of tumor cells and inhibited further growth of cancerous cells.

These new studies are wonderful news for leukemia patients. The possibility of less toxic treatments is becoming a reality. The use of invasive treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and stem cell treatment remain valid for the treatment of leukemia, but children and adults can seemingly benefit far more from the use of cannabinoid plant medicine as treatment or in conjunction with conventional methods.

1. https://nationalpcf.org/leukemia/ National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. 2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hairy-cell-leukemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20372956 Mayo Clinic. 3. https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/chemotherapy National Cancer Institute. 4. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2018/12/chemo-brain-caused-by-malfunction-in-three-types-of-brain-cells.html Stanford University. December 6, 2018. 5. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/treatment-types/chemotherapy/chemotherapy-side-effects.html American Cancer Society