Terri, a young mother and patient at Integro Medical Clinics, reveals how medical cannabis has helped her manage the symptoms of incurable cancer.
Terri was first diagnosed with cervical cancer at the age of 30. The diagnosis came with a lot of complications, including being told that she wouldn’t be able to have children, which had a huge impact on her family life.
However, miraculously at 36, Terri found out that she was pregnant. Throughout her pregnancy, she felt unwell and didn’t put on any weight at all. She went to see her doctor about it but was told it was simply a result of her being a geriatric mother.
After giving birth to her daughter, Terri’s sickness did not stop and she felt sure that something else was going on causing her to feel so unwell.
Eventually, Terri saw a doctor in the private sector where she was diagnosed with stage 4 incurable bowel cancer, which had spread to her lungs. As a result, Terri had to take various medications which had exhausting side effects, leaving her feeling weak and completely drained.
“At one point I was on seven medications that basically just made me end up feeling worse,” says Terri.
“It got to the point where, on some days, I just couldn’t get out of bed because the pain was so unbearable. Between the cancer that I had and the peripheral neuropathy as a result of my chemo and radiotherapy, most days I ended up in tears.”
Terri then spoke to a friend and found out about cannabis medicines which could help with her being unable to sleep and constantly feeling unwell.
After trying to self-medicate for a while, she consulted a doctor at Integro Medical Clinics who had helped her to manage her cancer.
Taking medical cannabis allowed Terri to get on with her life and look after her daughter. She noticed a significant change for the better, no longer having to take so many conventional medicines, which meant she wasn’t suffering from draining side effects anymore.
Terri continues: “The doctor I chose was Dr Ordman and he helped me through every step of the way, he worked with my oncologist and this meant that I could stop taking fentanyl, diazepam and sleeping tablets to help me get through the day or get to sleep at night. I found that the cannabis medicine was giving me an appetite throughout the day and I actually enjoyed my food.”
Dr Anthony Ordman, senior consultant and lead clinician at Integro Clinics has seen many patients with various conditions do well on cannabis medicines.
“I was delighted to help Terri when she asked about the benefits of cannabis medicines,” he says.
“I was able to see the positive effects it had on her, even after just a few days. Her cancer medications were sapping her energy and discomfort and understandable worries were depriving her of sleep.”
He continues: “Having discussed the case with Terri’s oncologist, who was fully in support of cannabis medicines, I started Terri on a low dose of cannabis medicine. Within a very few days, Terri was able to report back that she was now sleeping so much better every night and feeling so much less anxious than before.
“Her days were more comfortable and productive (she was able to carry on with some professional work). She’s now on her third month of cannabis treatment. There were no unwanted effects and Terri understands that she can stop the cannabis medicines any time she wants.”
Terri recently found out that her cancer has spread further throughout her body and has started on an aggressive chemotherapy treatment to tackle it. The chemotherapy has taken a toll on her from the very first day and has left her feeling extremely unwell, sick and dizzy and unable to focus at all. She had also completely lost her appetite and could barely eat at all, let alone enjoy food.
“From day one I’ve been feeling discombobulated and disorientated with different pains coming and going throughout my body,” she says.
“I’ve been having hot flushes and a dry cough throughout the day. I struggle to sleep at night and have been having really strange dreams and waking up feeling my whole body ache.”
Having been on chemo for over a week, Terri is now taking medical cannabis again and has experienced the benefits of it even while undergoing aggressive chemotherapy treatment.
“I took my dose of medical cannabis in the morning and was able to eat a whole piece of toast with butter and marmalade, and I actually enjoyed it,” Terri adds.
“I started to slowly get my appetite back and actually had some cravings for food.
“I took a full dose of cannabis medicine and was able to sleep through the night for the first time in a week and managed to get about 10 hours of sleep. The following morning was the first time I hadn’t thrown up.”
Terri is a strong advocate of medical cannabis and currently works in the field to support access to the medicines which have had such a huge impact on her and her family’s life.
She believes that medical cannabis can have positive impacts and help sufferers ease their pain and manage their conditions whilst being able to get on with their lives.
Integro Medical Clinics Ltd always recommends remaining under the care and treatment of your GP and specialist for your condition while using cannabis-based medicines. The Integro clinical team would always prefer to work in collaboration with them.
If you would like further information or to speak to Dr Anthony Ordman please contact Integro Clinics at www.integroclinics.com
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @clinicsintegro
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