Astrocytoma Grade 3 use of CBD Oil during chemo

Posted by bethanderson49 @bethanderson49, Nov 3, 2020

Hello - In August Dr Q removed 80% of my tumor-praise God!! I just finished 30 radiation treatments and 42 days on temodar. In a few weeks I will begin a five day cycle but at double the dosage of the temodar. Both my neurosurgeon and oncologist have said it would be OK to take CBD oil. My issue is it seems like any company that I inquire about what dosage I should purchase they don’t seem to have a consistent answer. I was wondering if there was anyone out there who has also tried CBD oil to help with the nausea and increasing appetite. I appreciate in advice as I have not taking it before and have no idea where to start. Thanks!

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Hi @bethanderson49, congrats on the successful operation to remove 80% of the tumor. Don't you just love Dr. Q?
I can imagine that you want to be ready for a 5-day cycle of double dose temodar and be prepared for side effects like nausea.

Which type of CBD oil to use and what dosage is most effective is unfortunately not regulated and a bit of trial and error. Here's some information that can help inform your choice:
- Choosing CBD products https://www.healthline.com/health/cancer/cbd-for-cancer#products
- National Cancer Institute Cannabis and Cannabinoids https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/cannabis-pdq#section/_3 (patient version. See answers to questions 6 and 7)

I'm tagging @cindylb as she may have some tips to share about her husband's use of CBD oil when treatment his cancer of unknown primary. @mepowers and @eileen61 may also have some thoughts to add about temodar and treating an astrocytoma.

Beth: You might also consider talking about dosing of CBD with the oncology pharmacist at Mayo Clinic. Did you experience nausea with during the 42-day course of temodar?

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Hi Beth, I had Gamma surgery in 2019. I was taking CBD for fibromyalgia. The neurosurgeon told me to bring it with me. After the surgery, I had the headgear removed and was very queasy and had a bad headache. The nurse told me to take 1 cc of my CBD . It took care of the queasiness and dulled the headache. The nurse said to take it when or if I had the symptoms again. She said "you can't OD on CBD".
Good luck, Joan

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Hi Beth, I wish someone had suggested CBD or something to help with side effects. My strongest memory of Temador was the fatigue. My protocol was spending 4 days in the hospital for my infused chemo and then starting the Temador a few days later. I was really tired from the infused Chemo and then I had to take the oral. My tastebuds were off the entire time I was in treatment. BAM...kill the Cancer! I am in remission for four years, so it worked. Hang in there. Listen to your body and rest when you need it, but also make sure to keep moving your body. Walking outside is good.

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Congrats on 4 years remission!! Thank you for the info. I’ve decided to order 500mg and will have to play around with it to get the relief during the 5 day cycle!

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@jmb73

Hi Beth, I had Gamma surgery in 2019. I was taking CBD for fibromyalgia. The neurosurgeon told me to bring it with me. After the surgery, I had the headgear removed and was very queasy and had a bad headache. The nurse told me to take 1 cc of my CBD . It took care of the queasiness and dulled the headache. The nurse said to take it when or if I had the symptoms again. She said "you can't OD on CBD".
Good luck, Joan

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Thank you for your information-uncharted territory for me but I’m feeling more at ease with hearing from others!

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@colleenyoung

Hi @bethanderson49, congrats on the successful operation to remove 80% of the tumor. Don't you just love Dr. Q?
I can imagine that you want to be ready for a 5-day cycle of double dose temodar and be prepared for side effects like nausea.

Which type of CBD oil to use and what dosage is most effective is unfortunately not regulated and a bit of trial and error. Here's some information that can help inform your choice:
- Choosing CBD products https://www.healthline.com/health/cancer/cbd-for-cancer#products
- National Cancer Institute Cannabis and Cannabinoids https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/cannabis-pdq#section/_3 (patient version. See answers to questions 6 and 7)

I'm tagging @cindylb as she may have some tips to share about her husband's use of CBD oil when treatment his cancer of unknown primary. @mepowers and @eileen61 may also have some thoughts to add about temodar and treating an astrocytoma.

Beth: You might also consider talking about dosing of CBD with the oncology pharmacist at Mayo Clinic. Did you experience nausea with during the 42-day course of temodar?

Jump to this post

Thank you for the resources and especially the idea to visit with the Mayo pharmacist!! I will do that when I’m down at Mayo before I start chemo.

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Hi Beth, my daughter (now aged 27) has a Grade 3 Astrocytoma too, with similar experience re operations, radio and chemo. She also has the BRAF mutation so is on Dabrafenib/Trametinib. See my other posts for history of this. For the last few years she has been taking prescribed CBD and Sativex (another cannabinoid drug). She takes this in the expectation/hope that it helps with reducing tumour growth, not for symptom control. The approach is unproven in the full medical trials sense, but at least the prescribing doctor believes in it, her oncologist is fine with her taking this in parallel, and it does no harm (but may well have been doing some good since, by rights, my daughter probably shouldn't have made it this far). Ref the amount of CBD, she does 3 1/2 days on, 3 1/2 days off, twice a day 50ml doses ie 100ml a day for 50% of the week. I hope that helps, David.

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