There are people who wrest the best from life – from the first moment to the last. Bernhard is one of them. Prostate cancer for 26 years, now metastasizing, pain, weight loss, weakness, and exhaustion. And yet he isn't the least bit weary of life: "I have two wonderful daughters with whom I would like to spend a few more years," says the 85-year-old.
He hardly speaks of his suffering, but all the more of his joy: of memories of his deceased wife, of his holiday cottage in Grindelwald, and of his walker, which he has had since his last rehabilitation stay. Walking is easier now, the built-in seat makes waiting at the supermarket checkout more comfortable – a great thing he should have bought long ago.
"If you don't want to make life difficult for yourself, you have to stay positive," says the senior citizen. The awareness that life will eventually end is important. He simply tries to accept fate and make the best of everything. Nevertheless, he has never just let things happen: "My parents always said: Get the best possible insurance so you can receive the best treatment if you get sick."
Cannabis as a supplement
This open and forward-looking attitude towards life may have led Bernhard to consider cannabis as an alternative treatment for his pain. After his diagnosis, he consulted with leading professors and trusted their assessments. He declined surgery to remove the tumor because it would have resulted in a colostomy. He has exhausted all other conventional medical treatment options. "Nothing more is possible," he says, "apart from a complex, personalized gene therapy, which is too complicated for me at my age."
The pain had worsened over the years. Five years ago, while channel surfing, Bernhard stumbled upon a program about the medical use of cannabis, and hope flickered that he could get his pain under control. He immersed himself in research and located a pharmacy in the Emmental region that had a department for cannabis applications. As the first pharmacy in Switzerland to cultivate, process, and sell cannabis—with federal approval and oversight—it was able to convince the interested senior citizen.
He gets the prescription from the pain clinic in Basel. The medication contains both THC and CBD, and he can dose it himself. He's thrilled with the effects: "My sleep has improved significantly, and the pain has decreased. My appetite has increased, I have more energy, and I feel more alert." He's confident that he can continue to control his worsening pain with it. You simply increase the dose—he hasn't experienced any side effects, and he's never felt high.
Coping with everyday life
Cannabis no longer helps the once passionate golfer and tennis player achieve great things. But what he does have, he can enjoy: "I still like to eat and drink good things." He prepares his own breakfast, and the home care service (Spitex) has recently started providing his other meals. He used to enjoy cooking, but with his walking aids, it has become too cumbersome: "By the time I finished cooking, I was so exhausted that I didn't even want to eat anymore." He performs all necessary daily activities while seated whenever possible.
His mind, however, remains as sharp as ever; he enjoys delving into his fascinating family history: his mother was of Jewish descent, his father a factory owner who was dispossessed by the Nazis. Together, the couple had to rebuild their lives for their family of seven. "We went to boarding school so that both of them could work full-time," Bernhard explains. "They chose a very good one. I have fond memories of that time." After graduating from high school, he completed a commercial apprenticeship. He has maintained friendships from his business administration studies, friendships he still cherishes today.
Family sticks together
A highlight of his life was meeting his future wife in Vienna: "Love struck like lightning, and we married six months later." When they settled in Switzerland, Bernhard became self-employed and built a business with 20 employees and up to 100 home-based workers producing exclusive Christmas tree ornaments. Since his retirement in 1998, he has spent a lot of time with his family, especially playing sports with his wife. The importance of family to him becomes clear when he speaks about his wife's death. "My daughters took great care of me during my grief, and I took care of them. We got through it well."
His wife had wished for her ashes to be scattered at their holiday home in Grindelwald, where the family had spent many happy times. So, the bereaved had a small fountain and a stone bench built there, with a view of the Eiger North Face. Since his wife had passed away in the year of their cedar wedding anniversary, their 49th year of marriage, Bernhard also had a cedar tree planted next to the site. Today, he is pleased that lynxes, birds, and many other animals now visit this little paradise. "That's where I want to find my final resting place one day," he says
To enjoy his life despite all the limitations until then, he relies on cannabis therapy. However, this is expensive, and his insurance company refuses to cover the costs. He finds this incomprehensible, as the effects, which go far beyond pain relief and appetite stimulation, are scientifically proven: "Surely this should also be available to poorer people." Therefore, he will "approach higher-ups" with his request to secure at least partial coverage. He advises other patients interested in the therapy to contact the Association Medcan: "They can provide addresses of reputable pharmacies that sell safe products."
