Professor Peter Grimison really getting the word out there the more publicity the better
Professor Peter Grimison will be presenting our upcoming free cancer update lecture - ‘Medical Cannabis for cancer care: current research in Australia ' on October 19. We spoke with him about what his lecture will cover and what you can expect to learn from attending below.
Q: What will your lecture cover?
A: This lecture will cover
Current Australian research that is studying the effects of medical cannabis on cancer symptoms such as nausea and loss of appetite, with a focus on a NSWHealth-funded trial of medical cannabis to control nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy that is being led by the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse cancer hospital in Sydney and the University of Sydney
Planned research about the possible ability of cannabis to directly fight cancer
Limitations of previous research about medical cannabis, and other barriers to prescribing medical cannabis in Australia
Q: What role does medical cannabis play in cancer care currently?
A: There is strong community interest in the use of medical cannabis to control cancer symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite and pain. Medical cannabis is currently being prescribed to a small number of cancer patients to assist with these symptoms.
Reasons why medical cannabis is not being more widely prescribed include the limited evidence from high-quality clinical trials for its use, lack of funding, the availability of other medications for symptom control that are effective for many patients, concerns about safety including side effects and misuse, and regulatory barriers imposed by state health departments and the federal government.
There is also interest in the use of medical cannabis to directly fight brain tumours and other cancers, however, there is no evidence from high-quality clinical trials to support this use at this time.
Q: What can people expect to learn from your lecture?
A: The focus of the lecture is to explain the importance of conducting high-quality clinical trials and other research in medical cannabis for cancer. Strong scientific evidence of benefit and safety is likely to give patients, doctors and government regulatory authorities greater confidence in the use of medical cannabis; making it more widely available; and could allow medical cannabis to be funded by the government.
Improving cancer care through clinical trials
Date: Thursday 19 October 2017
Time: 12.30pm - 1.30pm
Venue: The State Library Theatre, Alexander Library Building Francis St, Perth
Cost: FREE
