700 thousand reasons to fight: Catarina Leal's testimony against cancer
A journey of resilience and self-discovery
According to data from the National Cancer Institute (INCA), Brazil will have approximately 704 thousand new cancer cases by 2025. Breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men continue to be the most common types of the disease in the country. Among these alarming numbers, there are not only statistics but also stories of courage, determination, and hope. One of these stories is that of Catarina Leal, a 41-year-old woman from Paraíba, residing in João Pessoa, who found an unexpected ally in cannabis in her battle against the disease.
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019, Catarina faced a journey filled with physical and emotional challenges. After undergoing a mastectomy and breast reconstruction, she immersed herself in chemotherapy sessions to combat the disease that threatened her vitality and hope.
However, the side effects of the treatment proved to be overwhelming, testing her willpower with each session. It was then that Catarina, recalling stories shared by a friend of her father about the medicinal potential of cannabis, decided to explore this alternative.
Without hesitation, she incorporated the plant's derivatives into her treatment, seeking relief from adverse symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite, insomnia, and anxiety attacks.
Even while facing the painful chemotherapy sessions and the emotional impact of the disease, Catarina did not give up. Amidst this whirlwind of events, she received news that would further change her trajectory; she was pregnant. An unexpected twist that led her to temporarily halt her treatment, but did not prevent her from continuing to use cannabis to maintain her quality of life.
"When my daughter turned 5 months old, I had to return to conventional treatment, and that’s when I discovered that I had bone metastases throughout my body, going through another cycle of chemotherapy,” Catarina reveals.
She explains that from that moment on, she began to use cannabis in various forms, utilizing CBD, CBG, and CBN oil, THC (Delta-9) gummies, raw plant, roll-on ointments, and microcapsules.
"Even with all these options, the one that best meets the needs for pain and appetite is the vaporized form,” Catarina shares.
After the birth of her daughter and the resumption of chemotherapy, Catarina faced each obstacle with renewed determination. Today, even with cancer in chronic palliative stage, meaning there is no cure, she finds comfort and relief in the cannabis derivatives that, after obtaining a permit that grants her the right to use them for medicinal purposes, have become her allies in the fight against the disease.
Catarina Leal is an inspiring example of resilience and hope, a living proof that it is possible to face life's adversities with courage and determination. Her story highlights the therapeutic potential of cannabis and reinforces the importance of regulation that makes this treatment accessible to all who need it.