Blair's MS Journey
- Selma Blair was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) over 10 years ago. She had chemo to treat her MS, and is now showing off her new cane, which will help her to live with the illness.
- Many who go through chemo find coping tools, such as medical marijuana, to be useful.
- A positive attitude and mindset, like Blair’s, has been shown to improve cancer patients’ experience and prognosis.
The actress was diagnosed with MS 2009. MS is a disease that causes the immune system to eat away at the protective covering surrounding the body’s nerves. This leads to issues in the communication between the brain and the body, which may cause symptoms such as pain and impaired coordination. Despite all these roadblocks, Blair sees life with the glass-half-full, and searches for the silver linings. And we so love her for that.
Read MoreTools for Coping with Treatment
While Blair leans on her stylish new cane for her MS, there are other tools at the disposal of those battling illnesses such as cancer. It’s all about choosing what works best for you. Some cancer patients find that using medical marijuana lessens the pain of treatment.
Treating the side effects of chemotherapy can be helped with cannabis. Dr. Junella Chin, an integrative cannabis physician, tells SurvivorNet about its benefits, saying "Medical cannabis, if you think about it, it's the only botanical medicine that can help nausea, increase appetite, decrease pain, and elevate mood.”
Related: After Chemo Treatments for MS, Selma Blair, 49, Dances Through Chronic Pain in Sweet Video
Dr. Chin says that cannabis can be a preferred alternative to prescription drugs. She says, "Chemotherapy patient usually comes to see me if they have nausea, if they have decreased appetite, if they have pain, if they have insomnia, and if they’re depressed. I could in essence write four or five different prescription medications, which a lot of physicians, do a lot of oncologists do. Or we can try having the patient take one plant-based medicine first.”
Related: Understanding How Medical Marijuana Alleviates Pain
Marinol, a synthetic cannabis medicine which has been prescribed since the 1970s, is one plant-based medication to treat cancer side effects. “It’s pure synthetic THC,” says Dr. Chin, “which is the part of the cannabis plant that does make you feel euphoria. The alternative is using the cannabis plant, the whole plant, and that is much more effective in increasing appetite and decreasing pain for my cancer patients.”
Related: Can Children With Cancer Be Given Medical Marijuana?
You can speak with your doctor about the different methods available to mitigate the pain of cancer and cancer treatment.
Treating Chemo Side Effects With Cannabis
Keeping a Positive Mental Attitude
Blair has done and on a public platform, no less whatever it takes to cope with her diagnosis and treatment. It’s an inspiring approach for all those living with an illness. Maintaining a positive attitude through treatment has been shown to improve a patient’s experience and prognosis.
Related: SurvivorNetTV Presents: Maintaining a Positive Headspace Through Cancer
Succinctly: A positive attitude matters. Just ask Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Dr. Murrell tells SurvivorNet, “My patients who thrive, even with stage 4 cancer, from the time that they, about a month after they’re diagnosed, I kind of am pretty good at seeing who is going to be okay.”
A positive attitude doesn’t mean their cancer won’t spread, says Dr. Murrell. However, he does point out that it can increase their prognosis. “I’m pretty good at telling what kind of patient are going to still have this attitude,” he says, “and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life.”
It’s not only attitude, either. For some, says Dr. Murrell, prayer can be a useful tool as well. “I believe that prayer is very helpful. But also, in some patients who don’t believe in prayer, I believe that a positive attitude is what’s really important.”
Related: "I'm a Mess With MS" Says Brave Actress Selma Blair As She Gets Back To Horseback Riding
We love Blair’s positive attitude of gratitude about everything from a new cane, to her insatiable appetite for life. She remains an inspiration for those living with an illness, and the pain that goes with it.
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