Hello wonderful people! Welcome back to my blog. 2 years ago, I had the privilege of offering my services to a wedding client. TamBo’s Kitchen was hired to coordinate the reception and provide comprehensive catering services for 400 guests.

During this time, I met the head chef of the reception venue; he was also cancer free for four years. Of course, we hit it off and began discussing life, careers and business while diagnosed with cancer. I shared my story and he shared his. He was a beacon of hope when I needed it and he recommended that I smoke some pot to help with the anxiety that comes with cancer treatment. It worked for him. He preferred it to Lorazepam, the standard anti-anxiety medication prescribed for cancer treatment, and he asked me to ty it.

I was initially sceptical of his suggestion, laughing it off, as I did not have the liver to start pot smoking. Fast forward to 2018, a breast cancer survivor I follow on Instagram (and share notes with) was touting the benefits of CBD oil. Intrigued, I researched more to understand CBD’s potential benefits.

What is CBD?

“CBD is a phytocannabinoid, a naturally occurring compound found in the flower of cannabis species. CBD is differs from the better-known phytocannabinoid delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) becuase it does not produce an intoxicating effect.

Like CBD, THC is found in both marijuana and hemp, but the trace amount in hemp is so negligible it renders the plant non-psychoactive. Both CBD and THC activate the body’s endocannabinoid system—a network of receptors in the human body that control mood, pain sensation and other life functions.”

Did I Use it?

Have I started CBD oil yet? No! Do I intend to start soon? No! Why? I have an underlying condition that will make using CBD oil risky. CBD oil can escalate the overproduction of liver enzymes. If you are wondering how this applies to me, I was born with deadly bilirubin levels. Extremely jaundiced as a baby, I required photo-therapy and three blood transfusions.

A Personal Approach to Wellness

A couple of benign cysts were found in my liver during the initial testing before Cancer treatment. My liver enzymes also went up a bit during Taxol treatment. Now that I am in remission, I watch my liver enzymes like a hawk!! I will continue searching for other homeopathic therapies that would improve my mood while eating healthy, exercise and continue hormone therapy.

Embracing Individuality in Cancer Care

I am sharing this because, while CBD might hold a promise of healing for, It’s critical to remember that every cancer journey is different. I encourage them to do research about the pros and cons of CBD. Our bodies are not the same. What might work for me, may not work for you.

I recommend reading the Dana Farber Cancer Center blog post. Get more information about CBD becuase informed choices form the cornerstone of effective Cancer care.

P.s: Image and Quoted Paragraph were taken from the DFCI blog-post highlighted above.