A facebook group set up for conversations about how the UK manages cancer is gathering momentum

Banned Aid: Weed the World was set up by Dr Carol Coombes OBE, a leading strengths based leadership consultant in the UK, after she'd researched how other countries around the World are tackling Cancer treatment most successfully. Carol recently came out about her own cancer, diagnosed in February 2017, after finding that unless she accepted Chemotherapy and radiation therapy to her throat, there was no treatment available for her. Diagnosed with a ‘rare and aggressive’ tonsillar cancer, Carol immediately embarked on a series of lifestyle changes, aiming to rebuild her immune system. Her hope then was that she could do this, and with regular monitoring and assessment from the NHS, be able to check on progress. Carol was stunned to learn that the NHS, the main public healthcare provider in the UK, cannot discuss any treatments outside oncology, due to The Cancer act 1939, and therefore couldn't scan or assess her unless she'd go ahead with the treatment laid out. Further conversations made it clear that there can't be any conversations about other approaches. No treatment can be given without having gone through full clinical trials. No clinical trials can be considered without enough compelling evidence to force one. And no evidence is being collected to force one. Stories claiming treatment or cures are classed as purely anecdotal, and considered subject to change under scrutiny, meaning they can’t even be considered in gathering useful intelligence. 'There are a number of shrewd private investors in the UK who've begun to invest in and look into cannabinoid technologies, as the biggest growth opportunity of our time. Given the investment required in the UK, to re-humanise our welfare state, and in the NHS to manage even the the A&E requirements well, it makes good sense to look at this opportunity holistically. If we look at the Colorado experience, amongst others, we can see the potential for it to be a huge asset. My preference, personally, would be to have the herb declassified, so everyone can use it without cost. I cant ever imagine such a common sense approach, so if that's not to happen, the industry should be nationalised. That's the only other obvious and transparent way I can see to avoid a two tier system based on cost, without crippling the NHS who'd have to buy it from these private companies. It's brave and big, and also exactly what's required here she knows that even with a collective political will, which the UK doesn't currently have, methods proving to work in other countries can't even be discussed and assessed in the UK. Carol believes there must be others, and that they're not on record because the NHS can't treat them, so doesn't gather and use the evidence. She says that gathering evidence while the opportunity exists is too good to miss, especially as it shouldn't cost the NHS any more than standard assessment should. Her own approach, supported by herbalists and Naturopaths, is to rebuild her immune system, ensuring her lymph system is clearing her body, and that she's creating the healthiest environment internally. She’s spoken with several leading researchers who said, quite simply, they’re prohibited from discussing anything outside of conventional treatment within current legislation. Others in the NHS have said there is a real excitement about new approaches, and the biggest challenge is with knowing how to apply them, rather than of understanding them. The aim of the facebook group is to have a simple way to bring together people who are interested in finding out more, and who want to contribute to the conversations. It's a new group, filling with members happy to disagree and argue the biggest points respectfully, to see how it can be of most help As a parent and grandparent, and an original 1976 Punk rocker, Carol has spent much of her life changing the systems to meet the needs of the people, rather than the other way round. She's known to have always been concerned more with morality than legality, and has led a number of successful campaigns on precisely that basis. Cannabis Oil is expected to be made legal in the UK in a few years time at most, as it is in other countries. She says if information is being gathered now, ready for that time, it gives an obvious advantage. ‘Some of the great brains behind the work and research leading us to this point (including Mechoulam, Devane, Hanus, Melamede, Gordon, Russo, Guzman, Sanchez et al) are around at the moment to help nuance our understanding of what we find. How amazing would it be for our brilliant NHS staff to learn lessons while we can still ask The Pathfinders? ‘ She insists 'Look at what's happened with Cannabis in other countries. This could help to underpin other vital services, not just the NHS. There are proven and major ways of this helping the economy, not just health. We're idiots if we miss this, and much more morally bereft than idiots if we let this treatment, that could also avoid much of the trauma and havoc wreaked on people's bodies, go to the private sector alone. Carol's experience of making big changes to society lets her believe there's much more that can easily and cheaply be done. She'd like to see preventative work carried out in schools to understand healthy eating, and she’s been speaking with senior leaders in her hometown of Birmingham UK to model it as a Well City. We need to look at everything that’s showing results, as current treatment is so life changing. What an amazing, privileged opportunity to make a difference during what could for some of us, be the last stages of our lives?’ Join the conversation here https://www.facebook.com/groups/1371468459639799/ or via twitter @crackingleaders