Cannabis oil and Immunotherapy: Are they compatible?

Hello,

I was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic lung cancer in August, 2018. I had radiation treatment on my brain tumors that resulted in 1 tumor now barely detectable and the other 2 reduced by 75% - I was also being treated with 2 chemos (alimta and cisplatin) as well as keytruda. After 4 treatments of this combo, I am now on ongoing maintenance and receiving only alimta and keytruda. I have no side affects with the exception of sensitive/weepy eyes and a drippy nose in week 3 of every treatment. My MD says she has not heard of this before but I find it odd that it is always in week 3, the same week I will receive the next treatment. I have recently read about CBD oil and its possible anti-tumor effectiveness so started taking it just a week ago. I had no idea that it may reduce the effectiveness of the keytruda so plan to speak to my chemo pharmacist this Friday when I go in for my next treatment. There is so much conflicting information on the web, we must all be careful. My oncologist says of there is not a study on it, she will not recommend it. No alternative treatment advice from her, but so far I am responding well to treatment so we are doing something right. I hope to win this battle, that's for sure. Dies, exercise and meditation are so very good for us too!

@jgatti60- Good morning. It's always such wonderful news to hear that a treatment is working for a cancer patient. It brings hope and some peace to us all. I am a lung cancer survivor of 22 years. And I had cisplatin as part of my chemo. That is rough stuff, especially on the stomach. How are you doing with that? What kind of lung cancer do you have? I have NSCLC.
Please make sure that you do ask your doctor about CBD oil and immunotherapy. But also ask, at this time, since my cancer is being killed by the treatment I am having, with great success, do I really want to rock the boat?

@jgatti60 Thank you sharing yout story. My dad has the same diagnoses and he is doing the same treatement now. He will do his second cycle of Alimta and Cisplatin in 2 weeks and it will be 4th cycle of Keytruda. He is planning to do PET end of March to see the tesults. Nice to hear that the treatment worked for you. I do hope that doctors will stop Cisplatin after the second one since he is having neuropathy problems in his legs. He has no other side effects. I was also hoping to get CBD oil but worry about the interaction with Keytruda. If you find out anything, please let me know .

What do doctors say, how long you should continue keytruda?

Keep us posted. Ina

I Start Immunotherapy Friday, It appears THC/CBD may very well interfere with my therapy! I use Tinctures, Pills, RSO, Rick Simpson Oil, most potent Cannabis Med! I'll have to stop right off the bat, I NEED pain med & sleeping help! I there anything I can do?

Such a good question, Cobraguy. I'm hoping that @merpreb can offer some insight.

I'm glad that you found the information regarding the drug interactions between CBD and immunotherapy. You don't want to go through treatment for cancer only to have its effect reduced by a pain and sleep aid. There are other options, even if you only use them for the duration of therapy. Have you talked to your oncologist about alternatives for pain management and sleep help?

What type of cancer do you have?

Esophagus, it spread recently to my L3 Vertebrae rendering me "UNCUREABLE" They first told me I was 100% curable by removing the Esophagus, HOWEVER during chemo & Radiation it did spread to my spine! Now I'm on Radiation (10) & today I see the new Oncologist for Immunotherapy! I'm on loan to FCS cancer specialist, VA Military farmed me out for chemo cuz VA 40 miles away! THANK YOU for responding! Many of these sites are years behind! I previously had 28 Radiation & 6 Chemo! I had a bad reaction to Taxil so only two of them

I MAY also state that while taking chemo & Rad I was on the MMJ, I stopped during treatment & told my Oncologist that I was using it & he said if it works use it, there's no research of it interfering! Well I went back on it and BAM the very next treatment I had a horrendous reaction, 30 minutes of shear pain, they stopped TAXIL immediately! THAT tells me it's not safe to do while being treated, so I did more research which is hard to find GOOD sources!

@cobraguy223- Thank you, Colleen. good morning @cobraguy- I agree that staying away from THC/CBD can interfere with some immunotherapies so I applaud your decision. I suggest that you talk to your oncologist about pain relief and sleeping help. That way it will be very safe. Also, your immunotherapy might lessen your symptoms as it works.

Do you know what kind of immunotherapy you will take and its effects?

NOT SURE YET! Once every three weeks is all I know! I'll find out August 18

@cobraguy223- Good morning. I know that you are going through a very rough time, especially with a doctor's statement that your cancer was curable prior to knowing more. This type of medical statement hurts us more than waiting until he knows more. And, as you have learned more, things change are can be very disconcerting.

CBD oil can interfere with chemo or immunotherapy. Your reactions might or might not have been the cause of your reactions. Might it have been a coincidence and actually caused by your cancer? Coincidences are very confusing, especially when concerning our health. It often boils down to the chicken or egg conundrum.

You sound very angry and I don't blame you. Is it possible to get a second opinion? Would you want one?