When your doctor gives you a prognosis of 6 months left to live, you will try nearly anything possible to have a fighting chance to extend your life. That was the decision Helen made when she found herself reluctantly breaking rules so she could live!
Diagnosed in 2018 with two fast-growing tumours (glioblastoma) developing in and around her brain, Helen fully understood the gravity of the situation she was facing. Having previously worked in the New Zealand health sector, she knew the standard treatment options available, and the likelihood of winning the battle she was about to enter.
After three gruelling months of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, the tumours remained. The future was looking bleak. It was then that Helen chanced upon an Australian clinical trail that was open but restricted to 86 patients. Helen hastily enrolled (self-funded) as patient #86 – thus a very close call to be included in this much needed chance. A last roll of the dice.
The Sydney trial lasted for 12 weeks and involved CBD/THC medical cannabis. The aim being to test the effects of medical cannabis on brain cancer sufferers. Patients would either receive doses of pure tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a mixture of THC and cannabinol, or a placebo. After flying over to Australia, Helen met with the specialist team, joined the trial, and promptly received pure THC, initially with 0.2ml doses, eventually working up to 2ml controlled doses.
On her numerous flights back to New Zealand, Helen made the choice to bring some extra THC oil back with her to allow the continuing of the treatment. Because THC oil is illegal in her native country she was in effect breaking rules and the consequences for being caught with such contraband would be harsh. But, then again, the other consequences weren’t to rosy either.
How wrong is it that an elderly lady is made to feel like a criminal just because the alternative treatment, that incidentally, was showing to be reducing her tumours, is not approved by the pharmaceutical powers-that-be?
Previous to her treatment, Helen was very anti-cannabis. Having since received oncologist scans showing no tumour regrowth, she is now much more open-minded and has a renewed hope for the future. The stigma that many somewhat uneducated and un-openminded people have against this wonder plant still confounds me. So much so that I have a new portal website (www.nzhemp.com) dedicated to providing news, and educating readers, on this very plant and its potential amazing properties and applications.
Update – Helen is still with us, and is active in the community. She still takes THC oil, and other ways of ingesting THC to ensure her tumour (she only has 1 now) is kept at bay. Her journey of discovery has been very inspiring for many and shows how important it is to being educated and openminded to other possible solutions and the need for breaking rules (unwritten rules) that persist within society.
