Short-Term Medical Cannabis Treatment Regimens Produced Beneficial Effects among Palliative Cancer Patients

Abstract

In the last decade the use of medical cannabis (MC) for palliative cancer treatment has risen. However, the choice between products is arbitrary and most patients are using Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-dominant cannabis products. In this study, we aimed to assess the short-term outcomes of MC treatment prescribed by oncologists in relation to the type of cannabis they receive. A comparative analysis was used to assess the differences in treatment effectiveness and safety between THC-dominant (n = 56, 52%), cannabidiol (CBD)-dominant (n = 19, 18%), and mixed (n = 33, 30%) MC treatments. Oncology patients (n = 108) reported on multiple symptoms in baseline questionnaires, initiated MC treatment, and completed a one-month follow-up. Most parameters improved significantly from baseline, including pain intensity, affective and sensory pain, sleep quality and duration, cancer distress, and both physical and psychological symptom burden. There was no significant difference between the three MC treatments in the MC-related safety profile. Generally, there were no differences between the three MC treatments in pain intensity and in most secondary outcomes. Unexpectedly, CBD-dominant oil treatments were similar to THC-dominant treatments in their beneficial effects for most secondary outcomes. THC-dominant treatments showed significant superiority in their beneficial effect only in sleep duration compared to CBD-dominant treatments. This work provides evidence that, though patients usually consume THC-dominant products, caregivers should also consider CBD-dominant products as a useful treatment for cancer-related symptoms.

Cannabidiol (CBD) in Cancer Management

“…In a study assessing comparative effectiveness of THC dominant (n = 52), CBD dominant (n = 19), and mixed (n = 33) in 108 cancer patients, over one month, in general there were no differences between the three treatments in pain intensity (in all three groups there was an improvement from baseline) and no difference between groups in most of the secondary outcome variables measured (only in sleep duration was the THC-dominant treatment significantly superior than the CBD-dominant treatment). There were no differences in the safety profiles between groups [ 189 ].…”

Comparison of effects of medicinal cannabis or standard palliative care on quality of life of patients with cholangiocarcinoma in Northeast Thailand

“…26 It is also reported as useful for nausea, sleep, appetite stimulation, 26 and even at one-month follow-up, most parameters have been shown to improve significantly from baseline, including pain intensity, affective and sensory pain, sleep quality and duration, cancer distress, and both physical and psychological symptom burden. 11 We found no inter-group differences in pain ratings between the second-and fourth-month follow-ups. Pain is one of most common symptoms associated with cancer 27 and is one of the symptoms patients fear most.…”

“…A recent study on cannabis palliative care in oncology patients, had similar findings, suggesting that medical cannabis reduced chronic or neuropathic pain in advanced cancer patients 29 with significant improvements in other assessed parameters, including reduced pain intensity, improved sleep, and a decrease in pharmaceutical analgesics consumption. 11 There was no inter-group difference in anxiety ratings between the second-and fourth-month follow-ups for our patient groups. Anxiety is common in cancer patients and greatly influences survival rate, adherence to treatment, and quality of life.…”

“…10 A recent oncology study on the short-term outcomes of medical cannabis showed significant improvement in multiple symptoms between baseline and one-month follow-up, including reductions in pain intensity, affective and sensory pain, improved sleep quality and duration and reduced cancer distress, and both physical and psychological symptom burden. 11 However, no studies have yet compared the quality of life of patients with advanced CCA treated with, either, a standard palliative-care treatment protocol, or, with medical cannabis.…”

Cannabis Use among Cancer Survivors amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results from the COVID-19 Cannabis Health Study

“…Though clinical evidence on the indications of cannabis use for cancer has traditionally been limited due to federal legalization status, observational studies of cannabis consumers identify pain management, nausea, appetite, anxiety, depression, and sleep as most prevalent reasons for use [ 3 , 15 ]. Further, medical cannabis use has been identified as a coping strategy to help manage physical (i.e., pain) and mental health symptoms (i.e., depression, stress) among cancer survivors [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. However, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on cannabis use behaviors and other coping strategies among cancer survivors remains underexplored.…”