So who here has smoked pot during chemo...

[Big Ryan]

Just wondering if anyone here has smoked pot during chemo and what if anything it did for you. I don't expect you to talk about "illegal" things in a public forum, so let's just say that a friend of mine wants to know about this. Nudge nudge, wink wink.

[MikeCousins]

Seeing as it's an immune system reducer I don't think it's a good idea when your immune system is already pretty destroyed. It also most likely contributed to you developing HD so I'd probably think twice about ever using it again.

[bbyblueiii]

Alright, I will admit to trying it a couple times during chemo but it didnt really help. Mostly, it just made the nasty taste in my mouth worse and made me even more tired and lazy. I didnt have a non-eating issue so it wouldnt really be purposeful for that reason either. Although, there are tons of people who get great things from trying it during chemo.....to each his own I say.

[everydayrose]

Although most don't like to admit anything of these sorts, I will say that in my younger days I would enjoy what I could. When I was diagnosed I wondered how it could contribute. But, being around it made me nauseas so I never really tried. The smell of it was so much worse than I had previously remembered, it would make me gag. And, having done so much damage to the lungs through the Bleo, I was pretty darn scared to put anymore problems in them. I mean, chemo really takes a toll on our bodies, and to smoke anything would not be good. I would say, it would do more harm than good and to stay away from trying.

[RayNat]

I didn't do the pot (though a few of my friends suggested) cause my onc didn't want ANYTHING to interfere with chemo (not even a multi-vitamin) so when I was in much pain he prescribed a strong narcotic (NORCO). I was looking forward to getting high and being blissful happy and instead I was sooooo sick I refused to take it again during the transplant. So as Tianna said, everyone reacts differently.

Lastly, let me ask you this: what are you trying to accomplish? nausea or pain relief? there are more effective ways to deal with both of them -- keep trying till you find that miracle pill! All the best!

[MaryIN]

I anticipate a hornet's nest here!

You know, you can always ask your oncologist in the spirit of honesty. I was a couple a day cigarette smoker when I was diagnosed and, in addition to telling me smoking didn't give me HD, his recommendation was "it might be a good idea to quit." I think we all come to the table with lifestyles and habits, whether they're drinking or smoking or getting high, or eating organic, taking herbal supplements and exercising fourteen hours a day. They all have the ability to impact our experiences with treatment and there's a big continuum that represents things that are positive and those that are negative. I guess what I'm saying here is I do not believe there are any absolutes.

Now I'm going to sit back and watch the sparks fly...

[AMD45]

My son offered to get me some to help with nausea but whenever I smoked pot just for fun, I ended up praying to the porcelin God so I didn't think it was a very good idea -- kind of defeated the purpose.

[Dubyadee]

I got high a couple of times, which is nice I guess, but it did seem to make nausea worse. Plus I couldn't stand the taste.

I'm interested to know why Mike thinks it might have contributed to people getting HD. I've never heard this before. Is it because it suppresses the immune system? Or is there some evidence on this point?

[Michael]

I didn't.

In the old days of chemo(70's, 80's early 90's) it was used by some(illegally) undergoing chemo to help with naseau and to give one an appetite(even thought the pot was extremely harmful in other respects).

Now of course, they have legal and safer RXs that do a much better, safer job.

[BeanieRN]

Ryan:

I don't have much to contribute to this point...but this post sure did make me smile. I thinks its great that we have this non-judgemental forum to ask such questions.

And only my opinion on this fact...coming from the healthcare field: I would avoid most, if not all, kinds of smoke. Believe me I did my fare share of partying in college (and had friends that did a lot more than I), so I am not against pot in anyway, but I'm just scared for your lungs.

There are so many other ways to help you feel better in the pharmaceutical way...and if it was a question of just recreational/fun use, a cold beer (or glass of wine) always makes me happy.

Hope you're feeling well though and you're not asking out of desperation to calm post-chemo symptoms. Second treatment today right? Let me know how it goes. My first is Monday...eek.