Sequelae of Cannabis as Medicine

Finn, Kenneth

doi:10.1111/pme.12736

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…For example, both THC and CBD competitively inhibit CYP3A, which is the isoenzyme responsible for metabolizing more than 60% of medications 25 . This includes several drug classes that are commonly used as adjunct therapies in the management of patients with cancer, such as antihistamines, azole antifungals, macrolides, and benzodiazipines 11,26,27 . It is important to note, however, that much of the drug‐interaction data regarding cannabinoids is based on in vitro studies; therefore, clinical implications are still unknown.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Coala‐T‐Cannabis Survey Study of breast cancer patients' use of cannabis before, during, and after treatment

Weiss

Hibbs

Buckley

et al. 2021

Cancer

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BACKGROUND:The goal of this study was to characterize cannabis use among patients with breast cancer, including their reasons for and timing of use, their sources of cannabis information and products, their satisfaction with the information found, their perceptions of its safety, and their dialogue about cannabis with their physicians. METHODS: United States-based members of the Breastcancer.org and Healthline.com communities with a self-reported diagnosis of breast cancer within 5 years (age ≥ 18 years) were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey. After informed consent was obtained, nonidentifiable data were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Of all participants (n = 612), 42% (n = 257) reported using cannabis for relief of symptoms, which included pain (78%), insomnia (70%), anxiety (57%), stress (51%), and nausea/vomiting (46%). Furthermore, 49% of cannabis users believed that medical cannabis could be used to treat cancer itself. Of those taking cannabis, 79% had used it during treatment, which included systemic therapies, radiation, and surgery. At the same time, few (39%) had discussed it with any of their physicians. CONCLUSIONS: A significant percentage of survey participants (42%) used cannabis to address symptoms; approximately half of these participants believed that cannabis could treat cancer itself. Most participants used cannabis during active cancer treatment despite the potential for an adverse event during this vulnerable time. Furthermore, most participants believed that cannabis was safe and were unaware that product quality varied widely and depended on the source. This study reviews the research on medicinal cannabis in the setting of these findings to help physicians to recognize its risks and benefits for patients with cancer.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Coala‐T‐Cannabis Survey Study of breast cancer patients' use of cannabis before, during, and after treatment

Weiss

Hibbs

Buckley

et al. 2021

Cancer

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“…Recreational cannabis (RC)—involving smoking or ingesting the cannabis plant which contains over 500 compounds—has been a prohibited substance for most of the 20th century 15 . Recently, cannabis has been progressively remedicalized as a viable treatment for a range of illnesses, conditions and symptoms, 16 typically involving the specific chemical compounds cannabinol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in isolation or combination 17 . This remedicalization has occurred on a global scale, with legitimate channels for accessing MC now established in North America, South America, Europe, Israel and Australia 18 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘What price do you put on your health?’: Medical cannabis, financial toxicity and patient perspectives on medication access in advanced cancer

Olson

Smith

Good

et al. 2022

Health Expectations

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Introduction Following 2016 legislation permitting limited access to cannabis for research and medicinal purposes, the number of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigating the effectiveness of medicinal cannabis (MC) on symptom burden relief in cancer contexts has increased in Australia. This study aimed to understand the perceptions, hopes and concerns of people with advanced cancer regarding the future availability and regulation of MC in Australia. Methods This qualitative study draws on semistructured interviews conducted between February 2019 and October 2020 in Brisbane, Australia, as part of an MC RCT substudy. Interviews were undertaken on 48 patients with advanced cancer in palliative care eligible to participate in an MC trial ( n = 26 participated in an RCT; n = 2 participated in a pilot study; n = 20 declined). Interviews included a discussion of patients' decision‐making regarding trial participation, concerns about MC and perceptions of future availability, including cost. Transcribed interviews were analysed inductively and abductively, informed by constructivist thematic analysis conventions. Results Overall, participants supported making MC legally accessible as a prescription‐only medication. Fear of financial toxicity, however, compromised this pathway. Steep posttrial costs of accessing MC prompted several people to decline trial participation, and others to predict—if found effective—that many would either access MC through alternative pathways or reduce their prescribed dosage to enable affordable access. Conclusions These findings suggest that—despite a relatively robust universal healthcare system—Australians are potentially vulnerable to and fearful of financial toxicity. Prevalent in the United States, financial toxicity occurs when disadvantaged cancer patients access necessary but expensive medications with lasting consequences: bankruptcy, ongoing anxiety and cancer worry. Interview transcripts indicate that financial fears—and the systems sustaining them—may pose a threat to RCT completion and to equitable access to legal MC. Such findings support calls for embedding qualitative substudies and community partnerships within RCTs, while also suggesting the importance of subsidisation to overcoming injustices. Patient or Public Contribution A patient advisory committee informed RCT design. This qualitative substudy foregrounds patients' decision‐making, perceptions and experiences.

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Sequelae of Cannabis as Medicine

Cited by 2 publications

References 9 publications

A Coala‐T‐Cannabis Survey Study of breast cancer patients' use of cannabis before, during, and after treatment

A Coala‐T‐Cannabis Survey Study of breast cancer patients' use of cannabis before, during, and after treatment

‘What price do you put on your health?’: Medical cannabis, financial toxicity and patient perspectives on medication access in advanced cancer

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