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In October 2016, a striking CT scan showed a lung cancer tumor shrank when treated with cannabidiol (CBD) oil. The open medical case report was published in Feb. 21, 2019 by a team of doctors at the Royal Stoke University Hospital. 

The 81-year-old male patient and ex-smoker, who isn’t identified, refused chemotherapy and radiotherapy to avoid the physical side effects of the treatment. Instead, he decided to take CBD oil. Within three months, the tumor shrank by half.

Doctors Publish Remarkable Scans

After the careful medical review, doctors from the Royal Stoke University Hospital published the scans showing how the tumor size reduced by half and reversed the progression of the cancer growth. Doctors claim “CBD may have had a role in the striking response.”

Fifteen years before the lung cancer diagnosis, the man had survived prostate cancer. The patient had already been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a chronic inflammatory lung disease that makes breathing difficult.

Along with COPD, the patient used to smoke around 18 cigarettes a day during his 20s and 30s for a total of around 15 years. He had stopped smoking 45 years ago. 

Cigarette smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. About 80 to 90 percent of lung cancer deaths are attributed to smoking cigarettes.

The 81-year-old man was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma in October 2016 after seeing a physician about his worsening breathlessness. Lung scans showed a shadow in the man’s left lung which was a 2.5 by 2.5-centimeter cancerous tumor. The cancer had also spread to the man’s lymph nodes.

Lung adenocarcinoma is a type of non-small cell lung cancer that tends to replicate slower than other lung cancers.

CBD Oil Instead Of Chemotherapy

After the diagnosis, doctors offered him chemotherapy and radiotherapy to help improve his situation. The man declined the treatment because he did not want to experience any adverse side effects during the last years of his life.

A second CT scan in December 2016 found that the lung tumor had increased in size to 2.7 by 2.8 centimeters. The lymph nodes’ size had not changed in size. Again, doctors offered chemotherapy treatment but the man continued to decline treatment.

In July 2017, a chest X-ray showed the disease was slowly advancing. A CT scan in November 2017, however, revealed a “near total resolution” of the cancerous mass to just 1.3 by 0.6 centimeters.

Dr. Josep Sulé Suso and his colleagues also noticed a “significant reduction” in the size and number of mediastinal lymph nodes. When asked about his lifestyle, the man revealed he had been taking CBD oil since September 2017, two months before the November 2017 CT scan.

The man said he had been taking two drops twice daily for a week in the beginning, but later upped his dose to nine drops twice a day until the end of September. The patient stopped consuming CBD oil after his November 2017 CT scan because he didn’t like the taste and felt slight nausea, but never became physically sick.

The patient did not have any changes in diet, lifestyle, or medication that could account for the dramatic change in the tumor size. Doctors did not reveal the man’s current condition or if he continued to take CBD oil. Doctors did note that the patient was taking CBD oil from MyCBD, which contained 200mg of CBD in every 10 ml.

Despite the remarkable case of this ex-smoker who improved his condition, doctors noted that the effects of CBD on non-malignant cells are unknown. More scientific research is needed to confirm that cannabis compounds help stop cancer growth.

How Does CBD Work To Stop Cancer Cells?

Researchers aren’t quite sure how CBD interacts with cancer cells. Researchers believe that CBD can act directly and indirectly on tumor cells through different pathways. They also believe CBD’s effects can vary in different tumor cells.

Studies have found that CBD can induce self-destruction in cancer cells via oxygenated chemicals. They also believe CBD prevents tumor cells from multiplying and spreading throughout the body.

Even though there aren’t enough studies to conclude that CBD definitively stops cancer cell growth, CBD has been used by a number of patients for other health benefits associated with cancer treatment. CBD has been known for symptom relief for pain, fatigue, nausea, depression, anxiety, headaches, and nerve pain.

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CBD oil is just one type of cannabis oil that can help manage the effects of cancer treatments and improve outcomes. Cannabis oil derived from marijuana contains THC and CBD in varying ratios in legal markets. Hemp-derived CBD oil does not contain any significant amount of THC.

Users considering using CBD oil as a treatment for cancer should consult with a physician and should consider the laws in their area. Cannabis oil and CBD oil can be a complementary treatment option for patients hoping to complete treatment, reduce the need for painkillers, and handle the stress associated with the debilitating condition.

Fred Hernandez - Cannabis industry expert writer
Fred Hernandez

Fred Hernandez is a highly accomplished and versatile writer, boasting an extensive background in the cannabis industry. With an in-depth understanding of various sectors including cultivators, processors, retailers, and brands, Fred's expertise spans across the entire cannabis landscape. As a prominent contributor to CTU, he consistently delivers insightful articles exploring the latest developments, news, and regulations shaping the cannabis industry. Whether it's delving into the intricacies of cannabis products, cannabis strain reviews, or providing comprehensive analyses of cannabis laws, or sharing expert insights on cannabis cultivation techniques, Fred's wealth of knowledge positions him as an invaluable writer and educator for all cannabis-related subjects.

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