Headshot of Shiksha Gallow

Dr. Shiksha Gallow
Cannabis Clinician
Holistic Integrative Healing Institute
SPEAKER
MEDICINE

Comprehensive Evaluation of the ‘Impact of Cannabinoids’ on Prostate Cancer: Integrating PSA, PET/CT

Background
Prostate cancer is the fourth most common cancer globally, representing 7.3% of all cases and 14.1% of male cancers. This empirical study provides a thorough examination of how cannabinoids impact prostate cancer, covering PSA levels, PET/CT scans, and patient-reported outcomes.

Objectives
The objectives were to assess the influence of cannabinoids on PSA levels, metabolic activity, tumor size via PET/CT scans, and patient-reported outcomes like pain levels and quality of life.

Methodology
Using a quantitative approach within a positivist paradigm, participants were recruited from Cancer Care clinics in the Eastern Cape. Inclusion criteria required a prostate cancer diagnosis and specific medical history and cannabis usage adherence. From 125 eligible individuals, 90 participants were determined through sample size calculation. Data collection involved PSA data from pathology reports, PET/CT scan results, and regular patient surveys, utilizing validated tools such as the Brief Pain Inventory and EQ5D questionnaire. Ethical standards were strictly followed, with participants providing voluntary consent. Analysis using SPSS focused on primary objectives related to PSA outcomes and tumor size evaluating PET scans. The secondary objectives included the patient related outcomes such as improved pain relief and enhanced quality of life of patients.

Learning Objectives:

  • The objectives are to assess the influence of cannabinoids on PSA levels, metabolic activity, tumor size via PET/CT scans, and patient-reported outcomes such as pain levels and quality of life.

BIO
Dr. Shiksha Gallow is a global pioneer in the medical cannabis industry, driven by a transformative vision: "To empower global healing through holistic practices." She holds an impressive array of qualifications, including certification as a Cannabis Clinician (USA), expertise as a Medical Researcher, Holistic Integrative Ethno-Medical Practitioner, Medical Scientist (Clinical Pathology), Neuroscientist, and Health Coach. She currently serves as the Medical Director of the Holistic Integrative Healing Institute and is notably the first and only South African to sit on the Board of Directors of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians in the USA. Additionally, she is a member of the EXCO for the BRICS South African health chapter and serves on the Advisory Board of the Cannabis Research Council and ECS. Dr. Gallow’s academic achievements are vast, including a Doctorate of Science in Medicine, a PhD in Business Leadership, Master’s degrees in Public Health Medicine, Medical Science, and an MBA. She is currently pursuing her third PhD, focusing on the use of cannabinoids in treating prostate cancer patients. She was recently appointed as a Research Associate at the Tshwane University of Technology in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, where she conducts research on botanicals.

Her accolades are numerous: she received first prize for medical research at the 2024 South African Medical Association (SAMA) Awards, and won four awards at the 2024 South African Women's Imbokodo Awards, including Woman in Medicine and Science, the Woman of Stature Award in Healthcare amongst many others. A trailblazer in research, Dr. Gallow was the Principal Investigator of South Africa’s first cannabis clinical trial, which explores the use of medical cannabis as a replacement for opioids. She is a global author peer reviewer for Open Access Journals. She has been invited to be a keynote speaker at various global conferences, recently invited by the German government to spearhead collaborations between South Africa and Germany in medical cannabis. She has partnerships in Canada, Thailand, and Costa Rica, where she develops innovative formulations to treat a wide range of ailments. Dr. Gallow’s medical cannabis training programs are accredited by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and SAMA, and she trains medical professionals globally, both in person and online. Recently, she was invited to train doctors in Kenya and to participate in the Integrative Medical Society of Kenya. As a top-performing female leader in the cannabis industry, Dr. Gallow’s passion lies in leveraging her medical and scientific expertise to develop Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) from cannabis and other plant species to treat various conditions. She has achieved significant success in treating patients with autoimmune diseases and cancer, and she strongly advocates for patient access to safe and effective medicines that improve quality of life.

ATTENDANCE IS LIMITED. THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT.

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