...,
Your story is both inspirational, and heartbreaking. I am sitting here with tears welled up in my eyes, I want to give you a great big hug when I see you. Thank you for being so open and honest ..., I appreciate you very much, and I personally am so glad you are here, I enjoy every interaction I have with you. Very Happy
Thanks to you, I feel comfortable enough to share my story, and talk about how Cannabis has changed my life.
I did not start smoking marijuana until I was 32 ( I am 39 now). I was having some back pain and was sent to a specialist who ordered a full body bone scan. During the scan the radiologist came out and asked me if I had ever had a major injury to my knee. I said no...why ? She said....oh....your Doctor will give you the results, but I see a "hot spot" near your knee on the screen. I went home feeling very uneasy, I knew something was wrong. I started researching and discovered that a "hot spot" in a bone scan is not a good thing, It could indicate a tumor for example. I was then sent for CT and MRI scans, my doctor called a couple of days later...he said....Michelle I am sorry to tell you it is bad news. The scans show a tumor, "aggresive in appearance", and the radiologist's prognosis was Osteosarcoma (cancer of the bone) It is the same thing Terry fox had. Due to my nerves ( I have also been suffering with an Anxiety disorder since my teen years) Marijuana relaxed me. I was so scared. I was told that I would probably require amputation above the knee. I was sent to the Vancouver Cancer Clinic to see a bone tumor specialist. He walked in the exam room after looking at my scans, and simply said, you don't have cancer, go home and have a good xmas. I was floored. I did not feel relieved at all because I had a tumor the size of a plum in my knee, causing me pain, but he would not diagnose it. I went home and got mad. Again I researched, I even ordered my scans from the hospital (it is your right to do so) I contacted a Doctor here in Victoria who is amazing. He is also a bone cancer specialist from the Victoria Cancer Clinic. He completely took charge, I fought for a biopsy, which he finally had ordered, and he brought my case to a Conference in Vancouver. The final diagnosis is a Chondroblastoma. It is a cartilage based tumor. I continued to smoke marijuana, but what I didn't know is the effects Cannabis can have on tumors. I found out that Cannabis can inhibit the growth of tumors by as much as 81%. I have regular scans on my knee, what was once aggresive in appearance is no longer. The tumor has not grown or changed in size at all. However, it is pressing on major nerves at the back of my knee, it can not be removed because of the major blood vessels surrounding it. The pain is not only in my knee, but radiates up my leg and through my lower back. My only option for pain is either Cannabis or Tylenol 3's with Codeine. Everyone knows the horrible side effects Codeine has, not to mention it is highly addictive. I will stick with Cannabis, especially since it may actually be saving my life due to inhibiting the growth of my tumor, as well as providing pain relief. My anxiety disorder was so bad prior to smoking marijuana that I avoided leaving the house. My whole body was in pain because all my muscles became ridid and tight, my jaw ached from clenching my teeth. Cannabis relieves all of that. Lastly, I was starting to hear noises during the time of my tumor diagnosis, so I was sent to several psychiatrists and specialists. The diagnosis...Bipolar disorder. Contrary to what Doctors think, I feel marijuana helps to stabilize my mood, where as I used to go from heavy depression to euphoria, my symptoms are dramatically reduced now. I strongly believe in the healing properties Cannabis provides, and I am hoping and praying that it becomes legalized in my lifetime. Thanks again ... for sharing your story Smile Guest
No comments:
Post a Comment