Karen Roberts says she is taking cannabis to save her life

Karen pictured with her cannabis medicine that she is using to battle cancer

A GRANDMOTHER who has cancer chooses to break the law by taking cannabis.

Karen has stopped taking all her usual medication and turned to cannabis oil. And from taking it, she says her tumours have started to reduce in size.

The 55-year-old, has aggressive lymph cancer and says she does not care that she is doing something illegal.

Her husband Garry sadly died of leukaemia in January

Karen said: "I'm taking this to save my life and it's obviously working.

"I don't care if it's legal or not, I have no other choice but to try whatever I can.

"Other people have been cured from taking it and that's why I've tried it. I hate taking it though, it's vile and makes me heave.

"But since taking it my tumours have shrunk – it's amazing.

"This is a huge opportunity for me. I've got nothing else to save my life. Why not give it a go?"

Some cancer expert say cannabis-based drugs have showed "some promise" in tests.

Karen said she purchased the cannabis oil online which arrived in brown bottles, with no instructions on how much to take or when.

She swallows them and vows to carry on ordering more.

she said she feels no side-effects from it.

Karen had initially hoped a stem cell transplant from her sister would save her life but a tumour on her bowel had grown.

Karen said: "I've had an absolutely horrendous few months. It's been utter hell.

"Life has not been the same without Garry. He was my rock and my everything. I'm sticking my finger up to everything and I just want to feel and get better.

"I just want to go for it and hope for the best. I don't want to die, it's that simple.

"I want to live for as long as I can. I hope and believe this will work.

"If anybody had any miracle cures or tablets to take to solve this, then I would.

"People who read this might think and question why I'm doing it, but they need to live a day in my shoes and see what it's like. There is nothing in this world that I would not try to keep going."

Karen is currently on sick leave from a job as a charity fund-raiser at Asda Sinfin.

Cancer Research UK, said: "The only way to get scientific evidence that a treatment is effective is through clinical trials.

"More research is needed, which is why we're helping to support the only two trials of cannabinoid-based drugs taking place in the UK."

Department for Health say: "There is clear scientific and medical evidence that cannabis is a harmful drug which can damage people's mental and physical health and this Government has no plans to legalise cannabis for medicinal use.

"However, we recognise that there are people with chronic pain and debilitating illnesses who may not find relief from existing medication. This is why there is a clear regime in place to enable medicines (including controlled drugs) to be developed and prescribed in the UK."

Read more: http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Derby-cancer-battler-Karen-Smith-m-taking/story-26131709-detail/story.html#ixzz3USepCq1g
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