CBD Plus Exercise Showed Promise for Chemotherapy-Induced Nerve Damage in Cancer Survivors

After 2 months of CBD alone (up to 300 mg/day), medium effect sizes were observed for neuropathy symptoms (d=0.62), perceived physical function (d=0.62), and hand grip strength (r=0.401). Adding multi-modal exercise for 2 more months produced additional improvements in pain (d=0.526), neuropathy symptoms (d=0.862), and multiple functional measures.

Open-label interventional study with 27 cancer survivors with CIPN. Two consecutive 2-month phases: CBD only (up to 300 mg/day) followed by CBD plus multi-modal exercise. Assessed with painDETECT, FACT-GOG-Ntx-13, gait speed, timed up and go, 9-hole peg test, grip strength, and sit-to-stand test.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy affects up to 70% of cancer patients and has few effective treatments. This study suggests CBD alone and especially CBD combined with exercise could improve both symptoms and physical function for cancer survivors.

CIPN is one of the most debilitating long-term side effects of chemotherapy, often persisting years after treatment ends. A non-opioid, non-pharmaceutical approach combining CBD with exercise could offer cancer survivors a safer management strategy.

Small sample (n=27), open-label with no placebo control. Sequential design (CBD first, then CBD+exercise) means exercise effects cannot be isolated from continued CBD use. No blinding. Effect sizes had wide confidence intervals.