Hi I'm Tom Duncan. In 2006 I was diagnosed with Kidney Cancer and underwent surgery to remove the tumor and my left kidney. Then in 2008 I had my first relapse surgery in July and my second in October. both were on my right lung. Things went well until 2013 when another spot sent to the lung surgeon. Then my Doctor asked if I wanted to try IL2 treatments.
Well for those of you who don't know what IL2 are, they are for one thing, one of most poisonous drugs given to humans. I underwent a whole day of tests to see if I was healthy enough. Then I checked into the Medical Intensive Care Unit at the University Hospitals and Clinics. They give you the drug until your body tells them that you can not take anymore. Then you return after a couple of weeks and do it again. So when it come to dangerous drugs. How can you compare Cannabis to this. I have been working to bring change to our state and federal laws on medical cannabis for the last three years. I have talked to many elected officials and worked to stimulate their thinking on medical cannabis in a positive manner.
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My name is Gail Orcutt. Although I’ve never smoked, I was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010. Now I know that anyone can get lung cancer especially if they are living with an unacceptable level of radon in their home. (70% of Iowans do.)
In 2010, my entire left lung was removed and then I endured 12 weeks of brutal chemotherapy. I was told that I was cancer-free and there was a 90% chance that I was cured. No such luck; three years later, the cancer had metastasized to my left hip. Two different kinds of radiation were used, but just this summer, the cancer reared it’s ugly head again in that hip. Now I take a targeted chemo pill that costs my insurance company $14,167 a month! I’ve done the research. Cannabis can kill cancer and keep it from spreading. I do everything I can to stay healthy: diet, supplements, meditation, teaching others about radon, but I’m not allowed to use a natural medicine. My physicians aren’t allowed to mention it. I want the state of Iowa to legalize the use of medical cannabis in all of its forms so that my physicians and I have a choice when deciding on my course of treatment. The use of medical cannabis should be a decision between me and my medical team without any interference from the state legislature. No one deserves cancer, and no one should be denied this option for an improved quality of life! |
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Patient & Caregiver StoriesThese stories represent real Iowans suffering from complex medical conditions that need access to medical cannabis right here at home. Archives |