Nearly Half of Breast Cancer Patients in This Survey Used CBD
About 48% of breast cancer patients surveyed reported current or past CBD use, mainly for pain, anxiety, and insomnia, with insomnia showing the greatest self-reported improvement.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Of 141 breast cancer patients surveyed, 68 (48.2%) reported prior or current CBD use. The most common reasons were pain management (75.6%), anxiety (61.0%), and insomnia (58.5%). The largest self-reported improvement was in insomnia, followed by pain. About 46% of former users stopped because CBD was ineffective.
Key Numbers
141 evaluable surveys. 68 (48.2%) reported CBD use. Pain management: 75.6%. Anxiety: 61.0%. Insomnia: 58.5%. Biggest self-reported improvement: insomnia. Stopped due to inefficacy: 46.2%. Stopped due to side effects: 7.7%.
How They Did This
Anonymous online survey of breast cancer patients at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, accessed via clinic flyer from September 2020 to February 2024.
Why This Research Matters
CBD use among cancer patients is common but rarely discussed with physicians. Documenting the prevalence and reasons for use helps clinicians have informed conversations with patients.
The Bigger Picture
As CBD products become more widely available, cancer patients are self-medicating without much clinical guidance. Studies like this help quantify the gap between patient behavior and clinical evidence.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Convenience sample via clinic flyer (selection bias). Self-reported outcomes without clinical verification. Single cancer center.
Questions This Raises
- ?Which breast cancer symptoms respond best to CBD vs placebo?
- ?Are patients disclosing CBD use to their oncologists?
- ?Does CBD interact with breast cancer treatment drugs?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 48.2% of breast cancer patients reported CBD use
- Evidence Grade:
- Convenience sample survey with self-reported outcomes at a single center.
- Study Age:
- 2025 study
- Original Title:
- Characterizing Cannabidiol Use in a Breast Cancer Population.
- Published In:
- Clinical breast cancer, 25(5), 464-471.e3 (2025)
- Authors:
- Fleege, Nicole M G(2), Loeffler, Bradley T, Boehnke, Kevin F(22), Henry, Norah Lynn
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06466
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Why do breast cancer patients use CBD?
The top three reasons were pain management (75.6%), anxiety (61.0%), and insomnia (58.5%).
Did CBD work for these patients?
Self-reported improvements were greatest for insomnia and pain. However, 46.2% of former users stopped because they found it ineffective.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06466APA
Fleege, Nicole M G; Loeffler, Bradley T; Boehnke, Kevin F; Henry, Norah Lynn. (2025). Characterizing Cannabidiol Use in a Breast Cancer Population.. Clinical breast cancer, 25(5), 464-471.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clbc.2025.02.003
MLA
Fleege, Nicole M G, et al. "Characterizing Cannabidiol Use in a Breast Cancer Population.." Clinical breast cancer, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clbc.2025.02.003
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Characterizing Cannabidiol Use in a Breast Cancer Population..." RTHC-06466. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/fleege-2025-characterizing-cannabidiol-use-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.