How cancer patients use cannabis during active treatment
Among cancer patients at an NCI cancer center, 41% used cannabis during active treatment, with depression/mood and pain as top reasons, and nearly half of those users consumed cannabis daily.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
41% of surveyed cancer patients used cannabis during active treatment. Among active users, 71.8% started before diagnosis. Stage 4 patients had higher use (60%). Top reasons during treatment: depression/mood, pain, enjoyment. 44.3% used at least daily. Most common cannabinoids: CBD (35.2%), Delta-8-THC (18.3%), CBD+THC ratio (14.1%). 12.7% were unsure what they consumed.
Key Numbers
385 patients (mean age 49.5, 53% male, 41.6% Hispanic/Latino). 41% used during treatment. 71.8% of treatment users started before diagnosis. Stage 4 use: 60%. Daily use: 44.3%. Unsure of cannabinoid content: 12.7%.
How They Did This
Survey of 385 adult cancer patients at an NCI-designated cancer center using a harmonized survey created with 11 other NCI centers. Cannabis use patterns, sources, and reasons compared between active treatment users and non-users.
Why This Research Matters
A significant portion of cancer patients use cannabis during treatment, often without clinician guidance. The finding that 12.7% did not know what cannabinoid they consumed highlights a safety gap.
The Bigger Picture
The high prevalence of cannabis use during cancer treatment, combined with lack of knowledge about specific products being consumed, points to a need for oncology teams to proactively discuss cannabis with patients and provide guidance on safe use.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Single-center survey from an NCI center with high Hispanic/Latino representation may not generalize. Self-reported data. Cannot assess whether cannabis affected treatment outcomes. Cross-sectional design.
Questions This Raises
- ?Does cannabis use during chemotherapy affect treatment efficacy or drug interactions?
- ?Should oncology intake forms routinely screen for cannabis use and specific products?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 41% used cannabis during treatment
- Evidence Grade:
- NCI-center survey with harmonized instrument provides consistent measurement, but single-center and cross-sectional design limits generalizability.
- Study Age:
- 2024 survey from an NCI-designated cancer center
- Original Title:
- Cannabis Use Among Cancer Patients During Active Treatment: Findings From a Study at an NCI-Designated Cancer Center.
- Published In:
- Cancer medicine, 13(21), e70384 (2024)
- Authors:
- Baral, Amrit(4), Diggs, Bria-Necole A(2), Marrakchi El Fellah, Ranya, McCarley, Connor, Penedo, Frank, Martinez, Claudia, Vidot, Denise C
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05114
Evidence Hierarchy
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cancer patients use cannabis during treatment?
In this study, 41% of surveyed patients used cannabis during active treatment. Nearly half of those used it daily, and the majority had started using cannabis before their cancer diagnosis.
Do patients know what cannabis products they are using?
Not always. 12.7% of patients using cannabis during treatment were unsure what cannabinoid they were consuming, and products varied widely from CBD to Delta-8-THC to combination products.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05114APA
Baral, Amrit; Diggs, Bria-Necole A; Marrakchi El Fellah, Ranya; McCarley, Connor; Penedo, Frank; Martinez, Claudia; Vidot, Denise C. (2024). Cannabis Use Among Cancer Patients During Active Treatment: Findings From a Study at an NCI-Designated Cancer Center.. Cancer medicine, 13(21), e70384. https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70384
MLA
Baral, Amrit, et al. "Cannabis Use Among Cancer Patients During Active Treatment: Findings From a Study at an NCI-Designated Cancer Center.." Cancer medicine, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70384
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis Use Among Cancer Patients During Active Treatment: ..." RTHC-05114. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/baral-2024-cannabis-use-among-cancer
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.