Cannabis oil and Immunotherapy: Are they compatible?

Posted by cheung @cheung, Feb 14, 2019

Are they compatible, I.e. taking CO while having immunotherapy? Any experience from anybody who use both?

***Note from the Community Director***
Research continues to indicate that CBD oil interferes with immunotherapy. Here are some references to consider:
https://www.oncologynurseadvisor.com/general-oncology/cannabis-reduces-immunotherapy-response/article/688059/
– Cannabis Consumption Used by Cancer Patients during Immunotherapy Correlates with Poor Clinical Outcome https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7563978/

As with any complementary therapy, you should always talk with your oncologist. Complementary therapies can interact negatively with immunotherapy or chemotherapies and/or reduce their effectiveness.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Cancer Support Group.

@cheung - Good afternoon and welcome to Mayo Connect! I'd love for you to tell me more about your history. Will you be starting immunotherapy soon? Have you discussed this with your doctor? What type of cancer is the immunotherapy For?

REPLY

I will start my immunotherapy (Keytruda) tomorrow. I was diagnosed with mesothelioma biphasic in July 17. Had 2 chemo, both didn't work. I had 1 Keytruda cycle in September 18, but had to stop due to lung infection and inflammation. Started taking the oil in Oct 18, but does not seem helping. One nodule is already 65mm in Jan 19. This is my last chance to help my body now.

REPLY

@cheung - thank you for sharing this with me. I am a 21+ yearlung cancer survivor. I've had a lot of treatments but never immunotherapy. If have had SBRT though. I am truly sorry that you are going through this. I wish you all the best with immunotherapy. But you still should check with your doctor. Please keep me updated on you treatments. How are you feeling? How is your breathing?

REPLY

I add my welcome @cheung. You may be interested in reading these discussions on Connect:
- Immunotherapy and chemo; Keytruda side effects https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/immunotherapy-and-chemo/
- Using CBD/THC Oil to fight metastatic lung cancer https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/using-cbdthc-oil-to-fight-metastatic-lung-cancer/

As with any complementary therapy, you should always talk with your oncologist. Complementary therapies can interact negatively with immunotherapy or chemotherapies and/or reduce their effectiveness.

May I ask why are you taking cannabis oil? What are hoping it will help? Were you hoping it would help the infection and inflammation?

REPLY

I take CBD/THC for 1. Pain control, 2. Hopefully a cure. I discussed with my oncologist. He mentioned about the Isreal reported that CO can interfered with Keytruda and making it less effective. I am also PD-L1 negative. So the effectively of the treatment is unsure. But there is no better immunotherapy option? Is there any?

REPLY

@cheung- Wishing you the best today with your immunotherapy. As far as CBD/THC there has not been a connection yet that it cures anything. Your doctors would know the best therapy for you, so you need to ask them. Since CBD/THC can interfere with Keytruda I would advise you to stop it. You want to give this medicine a chance to work! Let me know how you do today! Are you nervous?

REPLY
@merpreb

@cheung- Wishing you the best today with your immunotherapy. As far as CBD/THC there has not been a connection yet that it cures anything. Your doctors would know the best therapy for you, so you need to ask them. Since CBD/THC can interfere with Keytruda I would advise you to stop it. You want to give this medicine a chance to work! Let me know how you do today! Are you nervous?

Jump to this post

Thanks for the advice. The treatment went OK yesterday. No any noticeable change in the body.

REPLY

@cheung- Great news. Were you awake? How soon should there be a change?

REPLY
@merpreb

@cheung- Great news. Were you awake? How soon should there be a change?

Jump to this post

No idea. Anybody had the Keytruda experience?

REPLY
@cheung

No idea. Anybody had the Keytruda experience?

Jump to this post

@cheung, please join other members talking about Keytruda and lung cancer in this discussion:

> Immunotherapy and chemo; Keytruda side effects https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/immunotherapy-and-chemo/
> Pembrolizumab (Keytruda), Cannabis and Cannabinoids https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/nivolumabkeytruda-cannabis-and-cannabinoids/

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.