I am so sorry to hear that your dad’s cancer has spread. However It’s positive news that it is still treatable. A curable cancer means that there are no traces of the cancer after treatment and the cancer will never come back. A treatable cancer means that the signs and symptoms of the cancer are reduced, so as long as the consultant is able to treat your dad there will always be a chance that new and advanced treatments could come along and his remission could last for much longer than you expect.

With regards the use of Cannabis, there are plenty of unsafe and inaccurate websites which recommend or sell unlicensed cannabis products and it’s understandable that this can be extremely confusing. CBD oil comes from the flowers of the cannabis plant and does not contain the psychoactive substance THC. It can be sold in the UK as a food supplement but not as a medicine. There is no evidence to support its use as a medicine and no evidence to suggest it is in anyway a cure for cancer. Cannabis oil however comes from the flowers, leaves and stalks of the cannabis plant. Cannabis oil often contains high levels of the psychoactive ingredient THC and for this reason Cannabis oil is classed as a class B drug and is illegal in the UK. You cannot buy this product from a licensed supplier.

We understand the desire to try every possible avenue to help your dad but there is little chance that an unproven alternative treatment bought online will help, and it may well harm. Not only is it illegal, but because it’s unregulated these products might be contaminated with harmful substances and vary in strength. Taking cannabis oil could also potentially interfere with other cancer treatments given to your dad by his doctor and can carry other side effects and risks, so even if your dad is only taking CBD oil, it is best to speak to his consultant to ensure that it won’t interact with his treatment.

The science blog on our website has more information about cannabis and cancer, but I hope this has helped to clarify things a little better and I wish your dad all the very best

Kind regards

Moderator Sarah

Can i ask what ur dads symptoms was please. Sorri 2 hear about the diagnosis sending strength  and positivity ur way xx

Hi,

He felt a lump on the left side of his neck, he's had no pain whatsoever with it even up-to-now. He starts Chemo on the 22nd June. 

Hi,

Sarah, the Moderator, has given a great answer to your question. As a skin cancer patient (melanoma that's spread to the nodes rather than SCC that's spread to the nodes) I can say that there is no evidence that CBD and THC help in the treatment of metastasized skin cancer. It is only thought to help with pain management for such conditions like MS.

If your dad's condition is treatable but not curable, it means his consultant will be arranging a treatment plan which will help stop the .cancer from spreading. Consultants ask that patients discuss the use of alternative therapies with them as they can interfere with treatment. Having known a few skin cancer patients who have tried these alternative therapies, they were sadly disappointed with the negative result.

Good luck to your dad and his treatment plan. 

Angie (Stage 3 melanoma patient since 2009)