Most Pediatric Cancer Patients Using Medical Cannabis Report Symptom Relief | Research

The takeaway

A survey of 24 pediatric cancer patients (15 parents of minors, 9 young adults) enrolled in a medical cannabis program found most reported cannabis helped with nausea, appetite, pain, anxiety, and sleep, with minimal side effects.

Pediatric oncologists, families of children with cancer, and medical cannabis program administrators.

17 of 24 pediatric cancer patients reported cannabis helped

What the researchers found

Top symptoms targeted: nausea/vomiting (n=20), appetite (n=15), pain (n=13), sadness/anxiety (n=7), sleep (n=7). 17 of 24 reported cannabis helped. Symptoms relieved: nausea/vomiting (n=15), appetite (n=13), sadness/anxiety (n=10), pain (n=9), sleep (n=9). Five reported side effects (mental changes). Three believed cannabis was treating their cancer.

Why it matters

Evidence on medical cannabis in pediatric oncology is extremely limited. This study captures real-world experiences of children and young adults using cannabis through a medical program, providing data to inform clinical conversations that are already happening.

The numbers in context

24 respondents; 20 targeted nausea; 17 reported cannabis helped; 15 relieved nausea; 13 relieved appetite; 5 reported side effects; 3 believed it treated cancer.

How the study worked

Anonymous 12-item survey of pediatric cancer patients certified for a medical cannabis program. 15 parents of children/adolescents under 18 and 9 young adults aged 18+.

What this study cannot tell us

Very small sample (n=24). No control group. Self/parent-reported. Selection bias from medical cannabis program enrollment. No verification of symptom improvement. Anonymity prevents linking responses to clinical records.

How to read the evidence

Provides rare pediatric oncology patient-experience data but very small sample and no controls limit conclusions.

When this study was published

2025 survey of pediatric cancer patients enrolled in a medical cannabis program.

The bigger picture

Pediatric oncology teams increasingly face questions about medical cannabis. This small survey suggests most patients report benefit with minimal side effects, but the belief that cannabis treats cancer (reported by 3 patients) highlights the need for careful clinical communication.

Questions still open

Would controlled trials confirm these patient-reported benefits in pediatric oncology?
How should clinicians address the belief that cannabis treats cancer?

Common questions

Does medical cannabis help children with cancer?

In this small survey, most pediatric cancer patients or their parents reported cannabis helped with nausea, appetite, pain, and anxiety. Controlled studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Is medical cannabis safe for children with cancer?

Five of 24 patients reported mental changes as side effects. While most reported benefit, the small sample size means safety cannot be fully assessed from this study alone.

Read the original research

Pediatric Patient Experiences Using Medical Cannabis in Cancer Symptom Management as Reported by Parents of Children and Adolescents and by Young Adults.

Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology nursing, 42(1-2), 37-43

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Langevin, Mary; Herriage, Teresa; Hooke, Mary C. (2025). Pediatric Patient Experiences Using Medical Cannabis in Cancer Symptom Management as Reported by Parents of Children and Adolescents and by Young Adults.. Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology nursing, 42(1-2), 37-43. https://doi.org/10.1177/27527530251318606