Medical Cannabis Use in Cancer Patients: Understanding Important Patient Reported Outcomes

Abstract The efficacy of cannabis in various symptom management strategies remains mixed. This study assess the impact of medical cannabis on cancer pain, nausea and vomiting, quality of life and cost impact on cancer patients. We enrolled 121 adult patients receiving treatment at an urban NCI-Designated cancer center. Patients completed a one-time telephone survey after certification. Patients with hematologic malignancies used cannabis products longer than solid cancer patients (heme = 10.5 months, solid = 6.2 months, p = 0.016). Positive trends in symptom relief occurred frequently, but did not reach statistical significance while detrimental effects on symptoms or quality of life were rarely noted. Younger patients (< 65) spent more money monthly on cannabis than older patients. The majority of participants reported improvements in cancer-related pain, nausea and quality of life. While much remains unknown about the use of cannabis in cancer patients, this study highlights a successful modality to help patients navigate a complex system to engage in safe, tolerable cannabis use.