Mom gives 7-year-old medical pot to help ease chemo side effects
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GLADSTONE, Ore. – A mother is giving her 7-year-old daughter medical marijuana to help in the treatment of a rare form of leukemia.
Mykayla Comstock will undergo chemotherapy for the next three years. Her doctors diagnosed her with cancer this summer.
Her mother, Erin Purchase, decided she didn't want to give her daughter the anti-nausea and pain relief medicine a cancer patient would normally take.
While the whole house smelled like pot, Purchase and her boyfriend, Brandon Krenzler, insisted Mykayla doesn't smoke the marijuana; instead, they give her marijuana oil, one gram every day, injected into capsules. Otherwise, she would take seven to 10 prescription drugs a day, Krenzler said.
"She is happier. She has more energy. She is eating like she used to. She doesn't have a lot of nausea," said Purchase. "Our first oncologist wasn't accepting of it. She felt it was inappropriate for Mykayla and pretty much any child."
While many may think it is inappropriate, it's not against the law. There is no age limit to be a medical marijuana cardholder in Oregon. For those under 18, children just need their parents' permission.
Purchase said she respects the views of those who disagree with what she's doing.
But, "what I say back to that, and feel strongly, is cannabis may be inappropriate for a 7-year-old, but ultimately cancer is inappropriate for a 7-year-old," she said. "If she wasn't using cannabis, she'd be using the narcotic pain relievers and anti-nausea drugs from pharmaceutical companies that every other adult would be using for cancer."
There are nine other patients under age 14 who are also enrolled in the state's medical marijuana program and a total of 50 children under age 18.
Purchase said her family is split over the issue. Mykayla's grandmother is strongly against it and so is her biological father in North Dakota. But Purchase said he doesn't have custody so he would need to go to court if he wanted to intervene.
I think that what you are doing is great, if it helps and keeps her from having to take a bunch of pills!! People only think about the negative and never the positive. I say to heck with what people think, do what you know is right for your daughter!!!Â
I would like to say thank you to 99% of the people who commented on this article. I have my card and have very good reason to have it. A year ago I was weaning off morphin after 9 years of it for severe chronic pain. It almost killed me by shutting my major organs down. I can better control my pain level with Mj than opiates ever could and I do not have to be high for it to work or be on it 24/7 like opiates. The main thing is that I have my life back. The Stigmata that our Government has put on those who use a common herb to heal hemselves is deeply ingrained on our society and it is so encouraging to see so many people display common sense. There will allways be a few who abuse the system to get high but that occures with Rx meds and everything else in life but the majority of us have legitimate reasons to use this God given medicine.
I don't understand what is wrong with people. It is NOBODY;S BUSINESS, how these parents are treating THEIR daughters illness!! it is approved by the Doctors, approved by the PARENTS, AND,... IT is HELPING THIS LITTLE GIRL DEAL with THREE YEARS of CHEMO!!! WHY DON'T YOU JUDGEMENTAL, BIG NOSED PEOPLE BUTT OUT!!! What the heck is WRONG with you people???? This family was doing FINE untill a bunch of UNEDUCATED, IGNORANT, BUSYBODY'S PUT THEIR NOSES INTO IT. BUTT OUT! BETTER YET, WHY DON'T YOU PEOPLE TAKE THOSE SYNTHETIC DRUGS WITH SIDEEFFECTS WORSE THAN THE DISEASE!
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Interestingly, while chemotherapy drugs are manmade and side effects can vary from person to person, most would accept this method of treatment for a 7 year old than an organic holistic method like marijuana. Marijuana is stigmatized and stereotyped and people need to move past it. Yes, it "can" be a gateway to other drugs, but so can alcohol. I personally do not use the stuff, but I know those who do. I say, leave the family alone.
 @OopsieMe The issue about using marijuana with the drug cocktail this girl is on (or will be on) is that it hasn't knowingly been tested and documented. If the mom is willing to be open and honest with the oncology teams and take their input (which includes stopping the marijuana or changing the dose), then, I don't think it is terrible. But she already got rid of a really great doctor with a vast wealth of knowledge simply because that doctor (and team) wouldn't allow the child to be given medical marijuana (probably, in part, because it hasn't been tested).
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Based on what others have said here, unless the family is growing their own marijuana and knows how to obtain only the oils (which would take quite a few plants), it isn't organic or holistic or without human involvement. If mom is purchasing it, how does she know she is getting the same quality each and every time?
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I'm not saying that the chemotherapy agents aren't without their own problems (back in 2007 one of the drug manufacturers in China -- yes, that's where our medications are now made -- accidentally put Vincristine in Cytarabine and Methotrexate IV bags) and they certainly aren't perfect.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/world/asia/31pharma.html?_r=1&ref=health
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What is known is that these chemotherapy agents affect brain cell development and can cause brain cell damage. As a matter of fact, any child who has chemotherapy automatically qualifies for learning assistance and IEPs (Individualized Education Plans). Research also shows that marijuana can affect brain cell development and can damage brain cells if used excessively. Basically you're playing unresearched Russian Roulette with a child's brain development. All the more reason to have supportive doctors and researchers on board so they can document the child's progression and make any changes if needed.
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The original oncologist the girl had is more than willing to go above and beyond to help her patients. If she felt marijuana would help, she would have prescribed it. If the girl did remarkably well on the treatment, she'd also probably be first in line demanding that the chemotherapy protocol be changed to be the most supportive method for all children on chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
So 150 years of Westerm Medicine knows more than 6000 years of Oriental Medicine? I will bet that Doctor recieves money from a certain Pharmacutical company. Considering Big Pharma's influence I do not trust Any Doctor that automatically discounts Mj.
 @OopsieMe Candy could be considered a gateway drug!!  What is the worst that could happen to this little girl? She gets hungry or sleepy....God forbid!!
They say they don't smoke it in front of the girl, but the KATU reporter said the house had a strong smell of pot. Â I guess it stinks without lighting it. Â But, then again, these guys are potheads and were high and didn't even realize they were smoking it. Â Druggers mentality. Â What next. Â Give the girl heroin or meth. Â It will work also. Â
 @boomer Yes I suppose you would rather have her addicted to opiate medication and have her body destroyed by the supporting drugs pushed by the Big Pharma Companies. Ignorance kills.
 @boomer YOU are an ASS. how in the HELL do YOU know if these people are potheads??? again, just a judgemental, uneducated, ignorant, "i know everything" big nosed, JERK.  UNBELIEVABLE!  "they were high and didn't even realize they were smoking it" ???????? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAA, SERIOUSLY?? HAHAHA
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 @boomer "I guess it stinks without lighting it."
Yeah if it is the green sticky, icky it DOES stink without lighting it and can stink up the whole house...your ignorance about marijuana is very apparent in your message!
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"Give the girl heroin or meth"
Ever heard of Oxycontin (heroin) or dexamphetamine and methylphenidate (amphetamines) funny, you can jack her up on legal pharmaceuticals but pot....NO WAY!Â
Unlike marijuana, heroin and meth are manmade products. I would never consider that for a child or even another human being, but marijuana is all organic. And it's really too bad that some people are so narrow minded and have a tendency to generalize those who use it into one category.
This is a brave mom. Â I personally detest the idea that taking 7 to 10 more pills on top of the toxic results of chemo is preferable to something that obviously works. Â If someone cannot eat, they cannot expect to do well. Â I have seen so many cancer patients die and I believe a lot of it is due to malnutrition. Â If something allows you to eat and keep up y our strength, Â for heaven's sake that is valuable! Â Â
I dont support legalizing MJ. But I do however fully support it being used in cases like this. This was the intent of the medical MJ law. This drug is significantly better then the other drugs people use to treat pain while going through a cancer treatment.
It is not just cases like this where Mj saves lives. I would be dead right now if I had not switched to Mj from morphine for severe chronic pain. The opiate were shutting my organs down and I was near death when my Dr. agreed to switch me over. I am now his biggest success in his entire career and even better I have my life back.
If it provides relief and increases quality of life, I'm all for it.Â
Where has common sense gone today?  We are NO FURTHER in our cancer research than we were in the 60's! Makes me angry that the government keeps the cure for themselves, and lets this poor child and all other children, parents go through this. This is a billion dollar or more a year charity and we are no closer than the 60's!  Makes me damn mad! Give it up already. In the meantime, get well Mykayla; hope you have a successful recovery! GOD BLESS.Â
 @MrAchilles YES!, YOU are CORRECT! they DO keep the cure a secret, becasue the pharmacutical corporations would go completely BROKE!, and think of the Doctor's who's schedules would open up !, yes they have it running smoothly for themselves alright!.
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 @MrAchilles That's not completely true. We are significantly further in cancer research. As a quick example they have determined that several types of cancer might start out as an infection that either triggers the cancerous growth cycle or that start out as a viral infection in the first place.
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In pediatric leukemia in particular, the odds of a child developing leukemia and surviving in the 1970's was something like 35%. Today it is almost at 80% survival rate. Not including relapses, the majority of the deaths actually come from infection and not necessarily the cancer.
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While I shudder when I see all of the pink labeled products and all of the consumerism directed toward it, you have to admit that they put countless amounts of that money into research which ranges from causes to cures to treatment protocols and how to best physically support a patient undergoing treatment.
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The St. Judes Hospitals are devoted to pediatric research, treatment, and cures for all of the ailments they treat. CureSearch.org (http://www.curesearch.org/) is specifically set up to fund research for the elimination of all pediatric cancers.Â
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As a matter of fact, unless parents specifically opt out, all data collected for these pediatric cases are documented and logged to determine the best course of treatment and see what changes might need to be made. You can't say that about any other generalized group without getting into the very specific rare disorders category.
Yep, except for the fact federal Goverment will not allow research into THC or Cannabiss so that kind of messes up the findings huh?
 @swede760 Yes, it does mess up the current probability (unless it is supported by research from other countries). At this point the child should also be excluded from any of the current studies because her results cannot be replicated successfully by other research doctors (especially outside of the states that don't allow medical marijuana).
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That's sad, too, because it quite possibly could be a very important component to a whole host of pediatric disorders.
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Research can be done in states that accept medical marijuana as long as they don't receive federal funding to support it.
@MrAchilles Seems as if research is more profitable than curing a deadly disease. You have to wonder.
Looking at some of the comments I can't help but think that we have reached a tipping point in public sentiment on cannabis. I have a feeling the people will demand it be legalized at the federal level within the next ten years.
 @James Gnau It will be a lot sooner.
 @James Gnau I think we reached a tipping point long ago. Legal or not, not all people will abide by unjust laws. Thank Goodness.
I say let the people govern their own households - Obamacare makes us be responsible to purchase and maintain health insurance then we should have the final say so over our health matters. Another point that is worthy of discussion is why this child even has to need relief from Chemo treatments when it is known that there are non-toxic ways to treat Cancer that have been suppressed by the FDA, State and local officials along with big pharma. Just look up Gerson therapy or Dr. Burzinski and Rick Simpson to name three the list is larger. And lets not forget this State has elected by regulation to allow dispensing medical cannabis products for her use in this case.
 @Down here south of the border From what I saw in the pictures that is Rick Simpson Oil they are giving her in capsul form. It is in itself a fantastic Cancer Treatment that attacks the cancer itself.
Having had cancer and been through chemo, I would never pass judgment or second guess why someone would do this. What works for one may not work for another. You do what you have to to get through the chemo and side-effects. I did not choose to go with marijuana, but knew that there were pills with THC available, if I decided I needed them at some point. But this little girl is fighting a battle a child should not have to be fighting. If it works for her, so be it. My only question is, why did the mother feel the need to go public with this? Is she seeking publicity for some reason? Who is benefitting from the story, Mom or the child. There was no reason for this story to be on the news except Mom put it out there for some attention. And that is sad.
 @KachinaÂ
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Having worked at OHSU and seen what children and their parents go through I have to agree 100%.
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This is a family goign through a difficult and terrible time. They have made dicisions they feel makes it easier for the child. I cannot say I would make a different choice given what they are goign through.
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@sortbait The drugs you get for chemo therapy have a skull and cross bones on them, they are poison. They cannot tell the difference between good cells and bad cells, so your body takes a huge hit. Then to be sick and lethargic after each treatment, that wears you down, it's hard to eat and keep your body going. It's hard to go through that, I can't imagine how hard it would be to watch your precious child suffer through it. I would move heaven and earth to do anything I could to ease the nausea and discomfort of my child.Â
 @sortbait I feel that you need to read up on the topic. Your comments also show me that you lack empathy for children with cancer.. Do you hurt? What hurts you the most?Â
 @sortbait Cannabis is not addictive...don't be ridiculous. The child is going through treatment for which REALLY seriously dangerous drugs and actual TRUE NARCOTICS can be prescribed, but you have a problem with her being this natural substance that is actually helping her? Seems to me that you're just bigoted against cannabis. I really think you need to educate yourself.Â
 @Arielle NaMara You need to educate yourself. knowledge replaces fear.
 @Arielle NaMara  @sortbait While I don't disagree with the intent of your post, you include one commonly spoken mistruth that I feel compelled to dispute.
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>'Cannabis is not addictive...don't be ridiculous'
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Addiction is defined (in medical terms) as; "Addiction is a persistent, compulsive dependence on a behavior or substance. The term has been partially replaced by the word dependence for substance abuse. Addiction has been extended, however, to include mood-altering behaviors or activities."
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As such, Marijuana use, just like many other behaviors, is addictive. There is some dispute as to the physical extent of MJ (THC) addiction, there is no question in either medical or mental health professionals that it can be a psychologically addictive substance.
If ssomeone is Psychologically addicted to Mj they have bigger mental health issues than smoking weed.
@sortbait .......and just how do you know that?
I wish Mykayla well in her fight against cancer. She's a brave young lady and I hope she wins the battle and enjoys a very long life.
The simple fact that this poor childs biological father AND blood relatives are "strongly against" using one of the most benign (non-lethal/ non damage causing) therapeutical substances known to mankind should stand as a historical example of the harms of political propaganda campaigns.
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These people would readily allow a physician to radiate there descendents bodies and pile loads of disease and pain treatment drugs that wreak havoc on major organs (organs that have yet to even develop) over trying cannabis, which, before 1937's prohibition, was prescribed from everything to asthma to tummy aches, to arthritis, etc. etc. etc.
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Has anyone googled cannabisand cancer in the last decade?? Study after study has found that cannabinoids (the active compounds in marijuana) act as a catalyst to kill cancer cells.
http://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?29330-Government-Proves-Marijuana-Cures-Cancer-and-Leukemia
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CANNABIS WORKS TO CURE CANCERS-GET A CLUE AND STUDY BEFORE YOU SPEAK
It also works to prevent it. Why anyone would differently is beyond comprehension. Lets see, do I want to give my child man made drugs that will add more havoc on their body or something natural. Pretty simple choice I think.
Anyone who has an issue needs to get over their puritanical BS and try and look at this logically (and this is coming from someone who cannot stand pot). I don't know if you people understand what chemotherapy does to youâ it literally KILLS you. Not to the point of physical death obviously, but it destroys your cells and makes you unbelievably sick.
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For one, the mom is giving her daughter marijuana in capsule form, she's not smoking it. That alone is the main point here. Â For two, it's not like she's some burnout teenager and is getting into gateway drugs; it's purely a form of treatment. It's a pill she's taking for health reasons, not as an excuse to get stoned.
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This little girl is battling a horrible disease, and rather than opt for pharmaceuticals, her parents decided to give her a natural remedy for the pain and nausea that comes with chemotherapy. There's is absolutely nothing wrong with that. I hope this girl beats it.
Study after study has failed to demonstrate marijuana causing serious harm. Â Does it cause increased sedation? Â Yes, but so does every available pharmacological anti-emetic (anti-nausea) medication. Â Can it cause serious and permanent neuromuscular side effects? Â No, but Reglan, an anti-emetic commonly used to treat chemo patients can. Â Does it cause serious physical dependency? Â No, but narcotic pain medications that are often prescribed to cancer patients can. Â The idea that marijuana is inappropriate for this girl is based almost entirely upon a warped public perception founded in 70+ years of prohibition, which was itself founded upon outright lies and propaganda. Â Should parents casually give their kids medical marijuana to treat minor complaints? Â Absolutely not. Â But marijuana is clearly a safe alternative to the drugs that these parents would otherwise be giving their child, and as a registered nurse I fully support their decision. Â Furthermore, if it were my child, I would do the same.
If the drug companies can give this child all the crap they do, then the mother should be able to give her the weed... Good for them, what ever it takes to make this child feel better.. I wish them all well..
For any person who has taken medication for any number of servere medical conditions. Â They know that if one med does one thing then the side effect set in, you take another med for the side effects of the last one. All you get from medication is more medication. So if the pills work leave them alone, it's better than all the junk that pharmaceutical companies give.
I would so do the same thing! I gave my mother in law weed to help her eat in her last few months of life! IT WORKS~!
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If it helps my child you bet I would give it to her.
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 @HarryJuku Because, someone has to do it. Why not this family? It may help remove some of the stigma and ultimately benefit others. And they seem fine with sharing their story. Ever watch the movie, Lorenzo's Oil?
I have no issue with this. If the kid is comfortable and it makes her feel better then what's the problem?
That is amazing coming from you. Not the usual remarks. :)
 @MrAchillesÂ
I have no issue with pot use if it is done legally and morally (not using it to get high and to underage kids with exceptions like this one).
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This has always been my stand for the last 20 years.
I strongly agree with this. And it does help with alot more than people think it does. If jobs didnt require a pee test and tested for marijuana in Idaho and or any other state. And if Idaho had a legal cannibus medical marijuana card I would totally get one. I have bipolar type 2 and BPD. And every single medication I take it induces anxiety. Nothing helps me. :<
@Jennifer Johnston. You need to move and go somewhere that you can get your card for your health. Mj saved me from a slow death from Morphine. I also had to take allot of supporting drugs and now I take none of them and I have my life back.