Cannabis as a last resort

A terminally ill 75-year-old great-grandfather has turned to medical cannabis to “treat” his prostate and bone cancer after he became too weak for chemotherapy.

In February 2011, the Rockingham man was diagnosed with primary prostate cancer and secondary bone cancer and was given four weeks to live.

He asked the Telegraph to withhold his name because he feared police prosecution.

His prostate specific antigens were drastically high at 1300, compared to a healthy man’s level of two, and was advised to start a course of medication to stop the production of testosterone, which could extend his life by three to five years.

A few months later, he started chemotherapy until doctors called it quits in April because he was too weak.

His wife said it was hard to watch her husband lose his strength so suddenly.

Desperately wanting a decent quality of life and, with no option other than palliative care, the pair opted to try medical cannabis despite fears of the law, addiction and overdose.

Since trying cannabis tinctures in April and now a highly concentrated oil, the great-grandfather says he has experienced a significant improvement in his health.

“He now sleeps well, is rested, relaxed and is getting his appetite back,” his wife said.

“It’s easy to be against it as an outsider, but my opinion of medical cannabis has completely changed.”

Each day, he has two small doses of highly concentrated THC cannabis oil, which takes up to six hours to absorb.

Concerned about the legal ramifications, he has not told his doctors, who now refer him to him as the “miracle man” because his antigen levels have dropped to about 450.

WA Health Minister Dr Kim Hames said he did not advocate for anyone to undertake alternative cancer therapies in preference to, or against the advice of, a treating doctor.

“It is essential that such treatment is conducted under medical supervision,” he said.