Most gynecologic cancer patients on medical marijuana reported symptom improvement, especially for nausea
Among 45 gynecologic cancer patients prescribed medical marijuana, 71% reported improvement in at least one symptom, with nausea/vomiting responding better (70%+ improvement) than pain (36% improvement).
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Of 45 patients (89% receiving chemotherapy), 71% reported improvement in at least one symptom after a median 5.2 months of use. Over 70% reported improvement in nausea/vomiting, compared to only 36% reporting pain relief (p=0.02). Side effects were minimal.
Key Numbers
45 patients; 89% receiving chemotherapy; 56% during primary treatment; median use 5.2 months (range 0.6-25.4); 71% improved in at least one symptom; >70% improved nausea/vomiting; 36% improved pain (p=0.02)
How They Did This
Retrospective chart review of 45 gynecologic cancer patients prescribed medical marijuana between May 2016 and February 2019. Electronic medical records queried for formulation, usage patterns, length of use, symptom relief, and side effects.
Why This Research Matters
Gynecologic cancer patients face severe symptoms from both the disease and chemotherapy. This study provides some of the first data specifically on medical marijuana efficacy in this population, highlighting that nausea may respond better than pain.
The Bigger Picture
The differential response between nausea (>70% improvement) and pain (36%) aligns with broader cannabis research showing stronger evidence for nausea than pain, and could help set appropriate expectations for patients and providers.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small retrospective sample with no control group. Self-reported outcomes. No standardized assessment tools. Heterogeneous cancer types and treatment regimens. Selection bias in who was prescribed medical marijuana.
Questions This Raises
- ?Why did pain respond so much less than nausea in this population?
- ?Would specific cannabinoid formulations improve pain response rates?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- >70% nausea improvement vs. 36% pain improvement (p=0.02)
- Evidence Grade:
- Small retrospective chart review without controls, providing preliminary descriptive data.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2021 using 2016-2019 data.
- Original Title:
- Medical marijuana utilization in gynecologic cancer patients.
- Published In:
- Gynecologic oncology reports, 37, 100820 (2021)
- Authors:
- Fehniger, Julia, Brodsky, Allison L, Kim, Arum(2), Pothuri, Bhavana
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03128
Evidence Hierarchy
Looks back at existing records to find patterns.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Did medical marijuana help cancer patients?
Most (71%) reported improvement in at least one symptom. Nausea and vomiting responded best, with over 70% improvement. Pain relief was more modest at 36%.
Were there significant side effects?
The study reported minimal therapy-related side effects, though the retrospective chart review design may have underestimated adverse event reporting.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03128APA
Fehniger, Julia; Brodsky, Allison L; Kim, Arum; Pothuri, Bhavana. (2021). Medical marijuana utilization in gynecologic cancer patients.. Gynecologic oncology reports, 37, 100820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gore.2021.100820
MLA
Fehniger, Julia, et al. "Medical marijuana utilization in gynecologic cancer patients.." Gynecologic oncology reports, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gore.2021.100820
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Medical marijuana utilization in gynecologic cancer patients..." RTHC-03128. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/fehniger-2021-medical-marijuana-utilization-in
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.