According to data from the Central Statistical Office from 2020, cancer is the second most common cause of death in Poland.. Research into alternative cancer therapies is underway worldwide, and cannabis-derived phytocannabinoids, including CBD, are one of the substances being studied. Scientific publications demonstrate the beneficial effects of cannabis in alleviating the side effects of invasive cancer treatments.

Cancer incidence in Poland and the EU

According to a Central Statistical Office report, 196,000 new cases of cancer were diagnosed in Poland in 2020. Breast cancer was the most common cancer among women (25.3%), followed by lung cancer (11.5%), while men had the highest incidence of lung cancer (18.5%), with prostate cancer coming in second (18.3%).

These statistics reflect a pan-European trend. In 2020, 4 million new cancer cases were recorded across the EU. Breast cancer was the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women (27.81 TP3T), and prostate cancer among men (22.21 TP3T). What distinguishes Poland from other European countries is its high mortality rate, particularly among breast cancer patients.

At the same time, taking the broader context into account, cancer mortality in the EU is significantly higher for men than for women (1,076,587 versus 865,965 deaths in 2020). This is explained, among other things, by men's greater tendency to delay seeing a doctor.

Cancer – how does the disease develop?

Cancers arise from genetic damage to the body's cells. They involve abnormal cell division resulting from gene mutations.

Healthy cells in the human body They are systematically replaced. New cells are formed through the process of cell division and replace old or damaged cells, which in turn die. This process occurs in every tissue of the body. This is how wounds heal and the body regenerates.

The natural process of cell division can, for various reasons, stop functioning properly, and instead of dying, damaged cells divide, grow, and form tumors. Some of these tumors may be cancerous.

Important features of cancer cells include:

- are not subject to apoptosis, i.e. their division does not stop and they do not die when they “should”, although they do not receive a signal to grow or they receive a signal to stop division,

the transformation of a healthy cell into a cancerous one is a long and complex process, which can remain latent for decades. Cancer development is a consequence of changes in many genes simultaneously, including genes related to the growth, multiplication, differentiation, and death of the body's cells.

the immune system does not fight them, because it does not recognize them as a threat – they are the body's own cells, just distorted; some cancers inhibit the immune response by secreting a special enzyme,
are capable of being surrounded by blood vessels, through which they absorb nutrients, which allows them to grow much faster; there are therapeutic methods that involve stopping the growth of blood vessels in the area of the tumor,
they divide quickly, and the genetic stability of transformed cells decreases – an increasing number of genes may undergo mutations.

Benign and malignant tumor

Cancers are divided into malignant and benign. Malignant tumors are those in which accumulated cancer cells penetrate healthy tissues adjacent to the tumor and can spread throughout the body. This spread leads to the formation of disease in other locations, often distant from the initial site. These are called metastases, a process called metastasis.

Benign tumors do not spread to surrounding tissues and do not metastasize. After surgical removal of the tumor, the tumor usually does not recur, unlike malignant tumors. However, they, due to their size or location (e.g., the brain), can also pose a serious threat to health and life.

Cancer and the immune system

Cancer cells have the ability to disrupt the immune system's response to threats. Scientists propose viewing cancer as a disease of genes and the immune system, and the field that examines this relationship is called immuno-oncology.

Changes occur daily in the genetic material of human cells. These changes can be influenced by environmental factors as well as internal factors, such as those related to metabolic processes. A properly functioning immune system can respond efficiently and precisely to such changes.

If the immune system isn't functioning properly, the process of cancer cell division and transformation isn't halted in time, and they begin to multiply rapidly. This happens despite the body's cells having repair and rescue systems that are activated when cellular DNA is damaged.

Errors in this system lead to mutations, including in the growth signaling system, growth arrest, and cell death. If these processes are imbalanced, various diseases, including cancer, can develop.

Cannabinoids in oncology

CBD – regulation of the immune system

The immune system's role is to scan the body for threats (e.g., precancerous cells) and eliminate them. If this defense is weak, the malformed cells can proliferate and form tumors.

This knowledge is used in cancer treatment – there are oncology drugs that strengthen the immune system and teach it to fight cancer. Cannabidiol (CBD) also strengthens and activates the immune system – it may help it recognize cancer cells as a threat.

Cannabis in cancer pain therapy

Research reports confirm the possibility of use hemp cannabinoids in the treatment of pain. Scientific reports cover many types of pain: headaches, pain resulting from injuries, and cancer pain.

CBD and other cannabinoids activate the endocannabinoid system, reducing the processing of pain signals. Their mechanism of action involves regulating neurotransmitters. Cannabis phytocannabinoids also exhibit anti-inflammatory effects.

Medical cannabis containing CBD is used to relieve cancer pain in patients who do not respond to conventional pain therapy.

An analysis of selected studies involving cancer patients revealed that cannabinoids reduced pain in four out of five study groups. All researchers note the need for studies on larger groups of cancer patients, which would help determine optimal dosage. CBD for pain relief related to cancer.

CBD relieves the side effects of chemotherapy

The most frequently mentioned side effects of chemotherapy include:

diarrhea,
nausea and vomiting,
anxiety states,
feeling of being broken,
lack of appetite,
disturbed circadian cycle.

Data collected by researchers shows that hemp cannabinoids (including CBD) alleviate or even eliminate vomiting and diarrhea associated with chemotherapy. They may also have a beneficial effect on the well-being of those undergoing chemotherapy, reducing anxiety levels.

Most scientists researching the use of medical cannabis in treatment cancer indicates the need for research on a larger scale, as it recognizes their therapeutic potential.