For Larque Spencer, medical cannabis has not only helped her manage her multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms, it’s also been an essential part of her treatment for breast cancer. She shares the story of why medical cannabis is the answer for her.
I feel better now than I have in a long time
It was by luck that I first heard about medical cannabis. My hairdresser and I talk about everything under the sun. I mentioned to her that a friend of mine had a medical cannabis business that I was thinking about investing in. She in turn told me that her mother, who has cancer, had started smoking cannabis and it made her pain easier to bear. I shared that my mother had done the same thing when she had lung and breast cancer.
She didn’t realize I had been living with MS for 32 years. She asked me what medications I took and I told her none, because they didn’t work for me. Then I started using CBD oil (cannabidiol). A week later I met a friend, who asked me how it was going with the CBD oil. She said, “I notice you’re not carrying your cane.” I was able to get around without it and sit down and stand back up without wobbling like I used to.
At first, I wasn’t sure if these changes were from the CBD oil, because I had also recently changed my diet and cut out gluten and GMO additives. I didn’t want to take medications for my MS. I saw what medications had done to my mother when she had cancer. So, I did my research to learn all I could about CBD oil. I started taking an ounce of CBD oil in the morning and one in the evening. I was able to get up in the morning and getting moving. My back wasn’t killing me .
Then last summer, I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. My kids were extremely upset, because they remembered how bad it was when my mother went through cancer treatment. I told my oncologist, “I don’t want to take my family though this.” I asked him about CBD oil, but he told me he couldn’t recommend that to me because he wasn’t a licensed medical cannabis provider.
I decided to go through with surgery, chemo, and radiation. My medical cannabis friend suggested vaping medical cannabis as part of my treatment, but I wanted to educate myself about it first. So I went to classes in D.C. every day for seven weeks. I talked with growers and processors and learned all I could, because I was still skeptical. But after everything I learned, I came to the realization that cannabis was the answer for me and I got registered as a medical cannabis patient.
I feel better now than I have in a long time. I still have aches and pains just like everybody does. But it’s not so bad you don’t want to get out of bed. My quality of life has gotten better. I just feel better. I’d say I feel 85% better. I tell other patients that this may not be for you, but what I’m doing is working for me. If you haven’t tried it, try it. If it doesn’t work for you, then stop. My mother told me, “Live your life every day like it’s your last day.” And that’s what I’m doing.
Editor’s Note: This CBMD patient story has been written and submitted by a cannabis patient. CBMD has been released from any and all claims as to its content and is not responsible for any medical and/or clinical use claims.
