news
“ The first phase of the trial and preliminary data shows a promising improvement in emotional wellbeing .
The good oil
Medicinal cannabis trial opens a new window for cancer sufferers .
By Eleanor Campbell
An Australian first medicinal cannabis trial has offered new treatment pathways for advanced cancer patients .
Mater researchers observed the efficacy of cannabidiol ( CBD ) oil to provide symptom relief in more than 150 participants , who they say showed vast improvement in their overall wellbeing .
Kevin Jocumsen , 66 , said his mental health had improved within weeks of taking part in the trial .
“ I have a whole new outlook on life ,” he told Nursing Review .
“ I honestly don ’ t believe I ’ d be alive today if they had just kept on popping me with pills .”
First diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011 , the Queensland father of four was placed on strong pain medication after it began to spread up into his spine .
He grew easily irritable and foggy , and said he was experiencing anxiety and depression on a weekly basis .
“ During this period , my mental health was sort of gone and down , doom and gloom a little bit , and anxiety was not too bad . It was manageable .
“ Then it started to get worse . I got really bad . And then they put me on drugs to try and help control that .
“ I don ’ t even really remember , probably about two months of that .”
After spiralling into a depression , Kevin ’ s family intervened and he sought the help of Professor Janet Hardy for palliative care treatment .
His pain medication was tweaked and he began the first stages of the randomised study . Each day , he filled a form to monitor his nausea , appetite and mental health .
Kevin said within seven days he felt his mental health improve enormously , which enabled him to better manage his chronic pain . “ The pain was less , my attitude was better . “ Before I did the oil the pain , even with all the painkillers , was pretty much a constant three all the time , now it ’ s usually a one .
“ I don ’ t know whether it helps the pain , but I know when you ’ re in a better mental state , that helps .”
Leeanne , Kevin ’ s wife of over 34 years , said she began to notice the changes within days . Kevin became more interactive with family members and his regular mood swings began to subside .
“ We were just spiralling around and around , the different medications they tried . Some of them were just dreadful .
“ And then the pain lessened , and his attitude got better again . So it was just continuing , evolving .
“ Now we ’ re just under 12 months later , being on the oil and seeing things stabilised and the levels being better , and the pain being better . We ’ ve been upgrading our van and are planning a trip to travel around Australia .”
Legalised in Australia in 2016 , doctors in most states can prescribe medicinal cannabis to patients with specific medical conditions , including epilepsy , chronic pain and chemotherapy-related nausea .
While there continues to be substantial public demand , studies report obstructions to access have prevented eligible patients from taking the legal route .
Kevin , a Bribie Island man , said he has spoken to people with ill family members who have fought ongoing battles with doctors and health departments to obtain a script .
“ Part of the problem they ’ re having here is most GPs won ’ t prescribe it .
“ I just think there needs to be a lot more research in it .”
In recent years , public acceptance towards medicinal cannabis has grown .
Surveys suggest , however , that GPs tend to hold a more conservative view , with less than sixty per cent agreeing that cannabis should be available in prescription .
Medicinal cannabis products are also not currently part of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme ( PBS ), and there is only one cannabis-based product currently listed on the Australian Register of Therapeutic goods .
While effects of CBD in improving chronic pain are understudied , experts hope the results of the trial will pave the way for the country ’ s first registered cannabis treatment for people with advanced cancer .
“ The first phase of the trial and preliminary data shows a promising improvement amongst patients in emotional wellbeing ,” said Hardy , who is the Mater Director of Palliative and Supportive Care Professor .
“ It will also play a role in educating the general public about the appropriate usage of these products while developing a wider understanding of non-conventional treatments ,” she said .
Kevin said he will continue CBD treatment for the rest of his life , and is looking forward to the future .
“ I don ’ t know when I ’ m going to go , but whenever the cancer turns , I ’ m positive about it because everything ’ s so good in my life at the moment .”
Two more randomised trials set to take place within the coming years . ■
4 | nursingreview . com . au