Medical Marijuana and Breast Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to help increase awareness of the condition.

About 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. Breast cancer occurs when malignant cells begin to grow abnormally in the breast tissues and form a lump or mass. Around 50 to 75 percent of breast cancer cases start in the milk ducts, 5 to 15 percent start in the lobules (the glands that produce the milk), and a few cases start in other breast tissues.

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in U.S. women next to skin cancer. In 2020, it is estimated that approximately 30% of all new cancer diagnoses in women will be breast cancer.

Breast Cancer and Medical Marijuana

Breast cancer can cause a number of symptoms such as lumps in the breast, irritation or itchiness, changes in touch, or changes in the shape and texture of the breast. Living with this condition can also cause women psychosocial distress which can affect their quality of life.

Treatment options for breast cancer can include surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or radiation. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause side effects including fatigue, nausea, vomiting and appetite changes.

Medical marijuana has promising benefits that can help breast cancer patients. Although marijuana is not a cure, it can help provide symptom relief in the following ways:

• Relieve chronic pain

• Reduce stress and anxiety

• Help with nausea or vomiting associated with chemotherapy or radiation

• Relieve fatigue

• Stimulate appetite

• Reduce inflammation

Help us Support METAvivor

METAvivor is a volunteer-led, non-profit organization that funds vital research to help improve the longevity and quality of life for stage 4 metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients. Their mission is to transition metastatic breast cancer from a terminal diagnosis to a chronic, manageable disease with a decent quality of life.

Each year, 200,000 Americans are diagnosed with breast cancer. Six to ten percent of these diagnoses are metastatic, or stage IV, and approximately another 30% of breast cancer patients develop metastatic breast cancer.

During the month of October, we are donating a portion of each new patient’s appointment fee to METAvivor. If you book a new evaluation this month, a portion of your appointment will be donated to METAvivor.

To schedule an appointment, please give us a call at (877) 303-3117 or schedule your evaluation online.

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If you are a Missourian suffering from a qualifying condition, you may be eligible to treat your ailment with medical marijuana, which includes both THC and CBD products.

Click here to learn more about what Missouri Marijuana Card's certified medical marijuana physicians can do for you, or give us a call at 877-303-3117, and our friendly patient support team can walk you through the entire process, and set you up with an appointment through telemedicine.