That little green leaf, it changed my life forever. Let me explain though. First off, I have never smoked a thing in my life. Never a cigarette, never a cigar, never even a real hookah… and I surely have never smoked that little green leaf. Call it weed, call it marijuana, call it pot, mary jane, or hash… I just never saw the need to dive into this little world of green.

Living in Pennsylvania my whole life, cannabis had always been illegal to my understanding. Sure, I’ve had friends that played around with this little plant in high school and probably even college, however It was never something I ever felt the urge to be around personally. I have always been the girl to “follow the rules”. Growing up I rarely got into trouble for actions other than being a brat.  I never drank underage, never really partied… call me boring but it just wasn’t my thing.   My parents had it easy with me at least;)

When I received the news of my initial breast cancer diagnosis in 2015 and facing the true fact that I did indeed have breast cancer at only 26 years young, there was never a thought to cross my mind that I wouldn’t be doing traditional treatment including chemo, surgery, and radiation. I get asked all the time, why I chose the treatment regimen I did… and truthfully, it’s because research has shown that the poison I had injected into my veins, the lasers that I had shot through my chest, and the multiple surgeries I had to remove my lovely lady lumps… have proven through research of modern medicine to save lives! The downside to these life saving treatments are the side effects because they make you the most sick. As the chemo or radiation rays are killing the evil cancer cells that have invaded your body, the good cells are also being slaughter in a battle of the body.  That is where lies the problem and reality of a patient going through cancer.

Alopecia, weight loss, steroid induced weight gain, joint pain and discomfort, neuropathy, lymphedema, anxiety, sleep issues, nausea, vomiting and vitamin deficiencies are only a “few” of the side effects that these “life saving” treatments produce. So, in my mind… if I did research and utilize non traditional treatments with traditional measures, I would have a better chance at fighting the side effects and ultimately winning my battle against cancer, right?

So, your probably wondering “okay but why the hell did she start this talking about the little green leaf and now your running a rampage.  Well, back in October 2015 when I first received my “you have cancer” call, my middle sister Samii had an agenda of her own.  Living in California and having a medical marijuana card for her own use, one of her initial instincts was that I had to smoke pot.  Plain and simple the topic was brought up and I immediately shot it down.  One, i’ve never been into “smoking”, I have asthma, to me its not “cool” and the unknown of a “high” is scary to me.  Being that medical marijuana at the time was still illegal in PA, the whole idea was just another headache and I couldn’t deal with her flight of thoughts as I had to worry about potentially dying.

My Introduction to Twompson and Rx Canna Care

With appointment after appointment and finally getting a plan in place, myself and my family prepared for my battle.  However, my persistent middle sister just would’t drop the subject.  She made a few calls and reached out to her friend and Master grower of over 15 years Twompson.  I truly don’t even know what to say about such an incredible man because he truly saved my life!  Around that time, Twompson was simply growing cannabis in California.  His beautiful sister Alyxis actually suffers from eczema and psoriasis and around the same time in 2015 was begging him to come up with some sort of balm that would help her major out break and stop the spread of her skin condition from worsening on her face.

Twompson being skilled in his trade and always fascinated by science, began his own research into the medicinal practices of extracting the purest form of CBD and incorporating it into a cream (now known as Canna Cream).  Around that exact time was when I was entering my cancer battle.  To tell you the truth, back in 2015 and still to this day… not much research exists on CBD.  But, in my mind… what did I have to lose, I already had cancer!  So, Twompson so graciously mailed me the purest for of CBD oil to begin prior to chemo… and I utilized his magical potion throughout my entire cancer journey.

What is CBD?

CBD stands for Cannabidiol.  Our bodies actually all have something called an endocannabinoid system in our brains.  Little Snapple cap fact,  the only way to activate this system is 1.  Through women breast milk (so hopefully we are all done suckling on that after around age one or so, and 2. supplementing with CBD just like any vitamin on the market.  HOLD UP… what am I saying about breast milk????

Cannabinoids and Breast Milk

The human body (and animals none the less) contains cannabinoid receptors in the endocannabinoid system of our brains that are specifically designed to process cannabinoids. This system consists of a series of receptors that are made only to accept cannabinoids, especially the most common compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and 2nd common cannabidiol (CBD).  Studies have actually shown that human mothers naturally produce cannabinoids in breast milk and that they play a very important role in infant development.

Cannabinoids are classified as a neuromodulatory lipid.   One of the main functions of these cannabinoids in women’s breast milk is to help a baby to feed by stimulating the suckling process. Basically, if there were not cannabinoids in breast milk, newborns would not know how to eat or have the desire to eat. Similar to when an adult smokes and gets the “munchies”- in babies, the CB1 receptors are being activated through natural breast milk trigger hunger and therefore promoting growth and development.

HEMP CBD

Supplemental CBD can come from two places, the HEMP plant (WHICH IS CRAP!), or cannabis plant.  When looking into using CBD especially during a diagnosis such as cancer, you want to be using WHOLE FLOWER CBD (aka, the oil is being extracted from the cannabis plant.  Why you ask? Well, let me lay out a picture in your minds.

Hemp is a tall growing plant that is typically bred for industrial use in oils, topical creams, and clothing/ constructional fibers.   It grows in rows of stalks sorta resembling bamboo.  When the compound CBD is extracted, only trace amounts are actually found from hemp plants. What is most annoying is that companies have monopolized on the “hemp” industry because yes, it is technically  CBD however the purity of it is garbage!

In the United States, the cannabinoid compound of THC is illegal, but once again that is only 1/80 compounds found in marijuana, how is that fair! This is why companies are able to use the hemp businesses to market knockoff  CBD treatments.  Basically unless people research it like me, these companies claim that they have the same healing power as pure CBD strains and its all a freakin lie! Its sort of like going to the grocery store and buying a hot dog then putting it under a microscope and seeing eye balls, hair, dust, and every other kind of garbage when you ‘think” you are eating pork.  (SO PLEASE STOP EATING HOT DOGS)… oh and DO NOT BUY industrial hemp CBD! 🙂

WHOLE FLOWER CBD

That leaves us with an explanation about our little green friend…. marijuana!  The cannabis plant is where the purest form of CBD lies.  I already mentioned that marijuana is comprised with over 80 different compounds.  THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol)- the most known compound, is 1/80 of the compounds found in cannabis that has psychoactive effects therefore making marijuana illegal (until recently in many states).  Tell me how this makes sense at all… so there are 79 additional  compounds that come from marijuana but because 1 compound makes you high is it ILLEGAL?! The way I see it… perhaps our little green friend is “illegal” because those other 79 other compounds can actually SAVE LIVES!!!! grrrr… DAMN you pharmaceutical companies!

Did you know that our cells naturally have cannabinoid receptors. When activated by cannabinoids (like THC or CBD) they help protect cells against viruses, harmful bacteria, cancers, and many other malignancies.  Well that makes perfect sense… and why don’t we have the cure for cancer again?  EXACTLY— a big FUCK YOU to pharmaceutical, sincerely, Meghan!

How CBD Works

Anyways… (sorry for being so heated!) CBD is simply another compound extracted from the marijuana plant.  THC and CBD have been found the have different effects on our bodies and our endocannabinoid systems.  THC binds to our CB1 and CB2 receptors which have direct effects on our central nervous system (CNS), and peripheral nervous system (PNS).  The CNS system consists of two parts including the brain and the spinal cord. Obviously our brain is how we think and interpret our  environment and how we control the movement and actions of our bodies.  So, being that THC has psychoactive effects and its receptors are CB1 in our CNS system, thats why we get HIGH when using THC! OHHHH NOW I GET IT!

Well then, what about the magical compound CBD?  Well CBD has actually been found to have little binding powers to either CB1 or CB2 receptors however, CBD has been found to activate MANY non-cannabinoid receptors. Instead, it binds to receptors, like the “vanilloid, adenosine and serotonin receptors” (you known fancy smancy science stuff). Because CBD doesn’t only bind to one set of receptors like THC, when it finds another binding agent in our body, it plays a role in overall healing like controlling our body temperature, pain perception and inflammation.

Like I said before, CBD does not produce that psychoactive affect that THC does, and that is simply because CBD inhibits the FAAH (Fatty acid amide hydrolase) enzyme in our bodies.  What the heck is that?  FAAH is the compound that activates the CB1 receptor. By binding to this receptor, CBD minimizes the activation of CB1 by THC, reducing its psychoactive effects. AKA, CBD will NOT make you high, therefore it is completely legal!

All the health benefits that CBD has to offer have to do with the particular receptors your body makes it bind to. For instance, when it binds to adenosine receptors, it provides anti-anxiety and anti-inflammatory effects… and don’t we all need that! Another science lesson, adenosine receptors are also involved in the release of two neurotransmitters known as dopamine and glutamate.  Dopamine is involved in cognition, motor control, motivation and reward mechanisms, and glutamate sends excitatory signals and is involved in memory, learning and cognition. Woolah, thank you CBD for helping my body help itself! Shame on you pharmaceutical companies for keeping the magic of healing from our society!

Lets dive a little deeper then… it has also been found that high amounts of CBD (aka only found through whole flower not hemp) have been shown to activate something known as the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor, which actually has an anti-depressant effect on the body! Why I want to mention this, is because this same receptor is also involved in processes including pain, appetite, nausea and anxiety, sleep, and addiction.  Hello! Thats why CBD is the perfect supplement for people going through a cancer journey! Aren’t all of those things side effects to traditional treatments!!! Do you see where i’m going with all this?

Then there is this little bit of information.  CBD has been found to actually block something known as CPR55 signaling, which actually decreases bone re-absorption and cancer cell proliferation.   WOOLAH, I’m pretty sure I just found the cure to freakin cancer through a GODDAM GOOGLE SEARCH!  Okay, well not exactly but… I could be on to something here…

Basically thats why CBD has whole body effects!  The way I explain it is, CBD helps our body, help itself!  And that is the honest truth!

 

Benefits of using THC, CBD, or CBD and THC

Basically, which compounds you want in your body all pretty much is broken down to if you want to get “high” or not.  Utilizing CBD and THC will optimize the medical benefits of cannabis however, if you are not in a circumstance to use THC (like me), if it is illegal in your states, if you work professionally, or if you simply don’t enjoy that flighty feeling, then using pure CBD is perfect because you are still accessing the receptors in you brain the heal your body without getting high!  AND the best part, it is COMPLETELY LEGAL in the US (and other countries) because it doesn’t have THC in it!

What conditions does CBD help?

Goodness gracious, I hope I didn’t lose you in all of that.  But, I really want you to understand the benefits of using CBD especially for a journey that could very well be life and death.  The best part is, CBD isn’t just a cancer supplement, but it also can be used for conditions including but not limited to Anxiety, Appetite, Arthritis, Autism, Cancer, Diabetes, Depression, Epilepsy, Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Herniated discs, Immune System, Inflammation, Mood, A sense of well-being, Muscle Spasms, Multiple Sclerosis, Pain Relief, Psychosis, PTSD, Chronic pain, Parkinson’s Disease, Stress, Nausea and Vomiting,  Alzheimer’s…

Phew! Talk about simply amazing right?

Benefits of CBD in Breast Cancer

I’m all about the research so here are a few studies that you can take a peak at on your own time… CBD and Cancer Research links

Basically, CBD works!  Heres another little piece of info copied straight from cancer.gov– when you search the benefits of CBD and cancer:

Thats all… and your telling me, the government DOESN’T have a cure?  They offered 6 measly bullet points about the benefits of CBD— HAHAH thats literally laughable! OKAY! EFFF OFF government and your will to KILL innocent people by HIDING the cure!  Grrrrr….

RX Canna Care

That all being said… I have now partnered up with RxCanna Care, the company that saved my life!  RxCanna Care went from being a cream created by Twompson for his sister Alyxis for her eczema and psoriasis to that same cream formula being worked with and adjusted to be safe for patients going through a cancer journey like me.  RXCanna Care is committed to offering CBD products that meet the needs of every patient. We currently over multiple lines including Relax Organics and Canna Cosmetics providing high quality products that have whole body affects, organic ingredients, and the purest CBD without THC from whole cannabis flower extraction techniques

What is so awesome about Rxcanna Care is the fact that our CBD does NOT come from hemp oil and is from a strain of cannabis that has the lowest THC level on the market!  Whole flower CBD must be carefully cared for and nourished so that the cannabis plants will produce flowers, then the cannabidiol compound is extracted to produce the highest purest CBD without THC. Its like would you rather buy fruit from a stand on side of a highway, or from a farm that doesn’t allow planes to fly over and uses all organic treatments to decrease risk of infection, bacteria, and disease? Its all about quality for RXCANNA CARE and thats why I feel 100000000% comfortable sharing their information, their products, and their drive to help others with all of you!

Check out their website and products using coupon code “sparkle4life” for a special discount at RxCanna Care

My use of RxCanna Care during my treatment

Around that time in 2015, I was a 26 year old friend of Twompson’s and was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. He provided me with his CBD in a tincture of oil which she used orally throughout  my 12 rounds of intensive chemotherapy.  To my and my families surprise, I never threw up, had an appetite, never had a drop in blood cell counts.  For me, the taste of the oil he initially provided me was smokey and I would gag with its sublingual administration.  However the new tinctures hardly have a taste at all! Perfect for anyone going through chemo when your senses are all over the place!

Back when I was using the oil and could hardly stand the taste, my mom actually placed the oil into a capsule for me to swallow without bearing the flavor.  However now looking back and knowing what I do about CBD and your body, taking oil in a pill form is decreasing your overall dosage of the compound.  The whole point of the pill is to get it into your stomach, however inside your stomach is stomach acid which breaks down the pill first.  Basically, instead of the compound being absorbed straight into your blood stream, its hitting your stomach acid therefore you may need more of a dosage than if you take it under your tongue.  Thats why RX Canna Care has the perfect tincture eliminating the taste and providing purest CBD!

I also used RxCanna Care products throughout all of my scare and radiation treatment for skin protection and healing!  I’ve explained how the whole idea of the canna creams came from Twompsons sister Alyxis who suffered from psoriasis.  Well, around that time that he whipped up his cream formula was the same time I would be having my port, mastectomy, and starting radiation.  I looked at his all organic formula and compared it to the recommended aquaphor and coco butter as referred by my radiation oncologist.  I chose to take a risk and use only canna creams during my recovery and to our surprise, my healing is beautiful! My prof scar and radiation cuts are already lightened and only 1-1/2 years old!

The biggest benefit I found was bearing my skin during 30 rounds of radiation.  Choosing to use a product that really didn’t have any research was risky, but I believed whole heartedly in the formula. To my and my doctors surprise, I had amazing results! I say it all the time, Canna Cosemetics not only saved my skin… but RxCanna Care saved my life!  I never burned through full chest radiation!  I would apply the cream about 4 times a day and where ever the cream touched, I found that I was protected!  I sort of performed my own research study because it turned out that my doctor never told me to coat my chest, armpit and back being that radiation shoots through your chest and out your back.  Well, surprise surprise, I didn’t apply the cream to my back, and that was the only place I burnt!  Like, thats incredible!

Conclusion:

Plain and simple, anyone going through a cancer journey should at minimum be on a CBD regimen.  If you are able and willing to use THC all power to you… however because of its psychoactive effects, this simply is not feasible for many people.  I am a living testimony that CBD works!  I did not have a full response to chemotherapy because I did not get he suggested 16 rounds (I only received 12) because of severe allergic reactions however once my mastectomy was completed I got clear margins and after 30 rounds of radiation, I was deemed cancer free!  Now I am NOWHERE saying that CBD cures cancer, however i’m sure with more research one day we may see a link between cannabis and all its compounds affecting the cure!  I am however saying that CBD will help your body help itself heal and fight the side effects of traditional treatments.

RxCanna Care is a company that has the purest form of CBD without THC on the market and utilizes all organic ingredients in any of its creams, lotions, or skin care items.  They hold the greatest integrity in manufacturing their own items, and everything is overseen my the owner Twompson.  He will even answer any questions or concerns directly, he’s incredibly intelligent and literally saved my life!

XOXO

Meg

**This blog post is in no way recommending only using CBD as a treatment for cancer, it is not saying that CBD is the cure for cancer. All recommendations should be cleared by your physician prior to supplementing with CBD and any vitamin for that matter!

Resources:

1. Pertwee RG., Pharmacology of cannabinoid receptor ligands, Current medical chemistry, 1999, 6(8):635-64; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10469884
2. Ashton JC, Wright JL, McPartland JM, Tyndall JD, Cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor ligand specificity and the development of CB-2 selective antagonists, Current medical chemistry, 2008, 15(14):1428-43; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18537620
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid_receptor_type_1
4. Racz I, Nadal X, Alferink J et al., Crucial role of CB2 cannabinoid receptor in the regulation of central immune responses during neuropathic pain, The Journal of Neuroscience, 2008, 28(46):12125-35;   http://www.jneurosci.org/content/28/46/12125.long
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabinoid_receptor_type_2
6. Costa B., Giagnoni G. et al., Vanilloid TRPV1 receptor mediates the antihyperalgesic effect of the nonpsychoactive cannabinoid, cannabidiol, in a rat model of acute inflammation, British Journal of Pharmacology, 2004, 143(2):247-50; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1575333/

 

Wow! It feels like I haven’t written in forever!  A part of me wants to blame it on my busy life, getting back to dipping my feet into a kazillion different things from work to hobbies, then theres that part of me that doesn’t feel like the past couple months have been very “cancer exciting” so why should I blog for you all… I mean I guess thats a good thing right?

Today I am one month short of being 1 whole year cancer free (from my last radiation treatment)— and oddly enough, it feels like that July day was way longer than a year ago!  Its so bizarre because its as if my brain is naturally blocking the most difficult times of my life as a natural coping mechanism.  I feel like this chapter of my life has been closed for such a long time!  I mean, my hair is now shoulder length, I have energy to do things, I want so badly to just live my life again!  But the truth is… I have a new life now, and I have to find a way to come to terms with this reality.

Survivorship puts you into this awkward limbo state.  You are deemed “cancer free” after your last treatment however they don’t necessarily have a test that can actually identify on a cellular level if indeed ALL the cancer is out of your body… so am I supposed to believe my doctors?  Even months after receiving my “cancer free” card… I still found it awkward to say “I HAD cancer”, what if I still “HAVE cancer”? Then my hair and outward appearance is still different so it’s just easier to say, “oh I have cancer”thats why my hair is short and I’m chubby… then there is that pity party— UGH its just so complicated!

When cancer treatments are over, we are expected to be happy!  We’re expected to just jump on back to the life we once lived.  To get back to work, get back to the gym, get back to life… and that is simply so far from the reality of it all.  No-one really sees all the PTSD and anxiety that us survivors live every single day.  Living in fear that one day we will wake up and the cancer will be back and we will have to live this hell all over again.  The truth is, we don’t get to go back in time to our pre-cancer existence, we are simply forced to move forward, and move on, that is one of the most difficult parts of this journey yet!

I remember my doctors telling me, “I am going to bring you to near death with your treatments in order to save your life”.  It isn’t until a year and a half later that I am looking back and realizing the true depth of this statement.  A part of me is so thankful— HELL IM ALIVE!  But, then theres a part of me that looks at how different my life is.  I am filled with anxiety, i’m unhappy with my body, my hormones are all over the place, I may never be able to have a child of my own naturally— that hurts! I have only recently realized that the old me is actually gone forever. Yes, physically treatment has saved my life, however cancer has stolen my life- my old life is dead, the new me is alive. But who am I?

There was a time during treatment that all I wanted to hear was that “I am cancer free”.  I prayed for a complete response to chemo- I didn’t get that.  I begged for clear margins post my mastectomy- I was so blessed to have a perfect surgery.  I dreamed of getting back to life… but thats just it, this new life is hard freakin work! I question my existence everyday.  Do my old friends not talk to me because I am different?  Will I only ever be able to truly connect to Breasties I meet online or through travel?

Once my treatments ended, I think Ive been faced with more fear than during chemo!  The fear of the unknown attacks me daily and my incredible husband is always there to build me up from the crumbling mess I become especially at night when my brain doesn’t want to stop thinking about the what ifs.  The average person doesn’t realize that when someone is going through cancer, they see atleast one doctor weekly if not multiple times a week.  Now, I don’t see my doctors for 3-6 months at a time! It is the weirdest and scariest feeling ever, because what if i’m missing a symptom that they would be able to catch and i’m overlooking.

From looks, to career, to friendships, to hobbies, to overall attitude, views, and determination— my life has completely changed. Heck I’m Meghan Koziel now not even Meghan Franz! My name has even changed thank you marriage:)! I’d say I am a completely different person, and although a part of me is sad for losing my boobs, my cute skinny body, my hair… I am so blessed for becoming a strong, compassionate, lively me!

For the past year and a half I’ve been a 26 year old diagnosed with breast cancer… today, I am Meghan Koziel a 28 year old wife, puppy mommy, daughter, sister, Occupational Therapist, blogger, advocate and boutique owner.  I am involved with multiple breast cancer organization, I participate in local and travel meet ups with breasties, I even continue to dedicate countless hours conversing with girls and guy through instagram providing encouragement and experience.  Although I will NEVER put my cancer journey behind me… I think it is time to push forward and move on to the “I HAD cancer” phrase… maybe?

XOXO

Meg