Scoping review found cancer patients use medical cannabis mainly for nausea, pain, and appetite
A scoping review of 163 studies found cancer patients use medical cannabis for two main reasons: managing cancer impacts and staying connected to others, with nausea, pain, and appetite as the top three approved indications.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Two main reasons for medical cannabis use in cancer: limiting cancer impacts and side effects, and staying connected to others. Three approved indications: refractory nausea/vomiting, pain management, and appetite/food intake improvement. Eleven routes of administration identified, with oils and oral solutions most common.
Key Numbers
5,283 publications identified, 163 met criteria. 11 routes of administration. Oils and oral solutions most frequent. Three approved indications identified.
How They Did This
Scoping review following Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. Searched five databases and two grey literature sources. Included French/English primary studies and knowledge syntheses from 2000-2021. 5,283 publications identified, 163 met eligibility criteria. Data extracted by two independent reviewers.
Why This Research Matters
Understanding why and how cancer patients use medical cannabis helps clinicians have more informed conversations and identify gaps in supportive care that patients are trying to fill.
The Bigger Picture
The finding that staying connected to others is a key reason for cannabis use highlights that patients use it not just for physical symptoms but also for the social and psychological aspects of living with cancer.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Scoping review maps evidence breadth rather than evaluating effectiveness. Heterogeneous study designs and populations. Most evidence from observational and qualitative studies.
Questions This Raises
- ?Should oncology guidelines formally address medical cannabis for supportive care?
- ?Which route of administration is most effective for each indication?
- ?How can healthcare providers better support patients' information needs?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Two main reasons: managing cancer impacts and staying connected to others
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: comprehensive scoping review with rigorous methodology, but maps evidence breadth rather than quality.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022.
- Original Title:
- Routes of administration, reasons for use, and approved indications of medical cannabis in oncology: a scoping review.
- Published In:
- BMC cancer, 22(1), 319 (2022)
- Authors:
- Vinette, Billy(4), Côté, José(6), El-Akhras, Ali, Mrad, Hazar, Chicoine, Gabrielle, Bilodeau, Karine
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04279
Evidence Hierarchy
Maps out the available research on a broad question.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What are the approved indications for cannabis in cancer?
The review identified three main approved indications: managing refractory nausea and vomiting, complementing pain management, and improving appetite and food intake.
How do cancer patients take medical cannabis?
Eleven routes were identified, with oils and oral solutions most frequently reported. Other routes included inhalation, edibles, capsules, and topicals.
What does "staying connected to others" mean?
Beyond physical symptom relief, patients reported using cannabis to maintain social connections, quality of life, and engagement with loved ones during their cancer journey.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04279APA
Vinette, Billy; Côté, José; El-Akhras, Ali; Mrad, Hazar; Chicoine, Gabrielle; Bilodeau, Karine. (2022). Routes of administration, reasons for use, and approved indications of medical cannabis in oncology: a scoping review.. BMC cancer, 22(1), 319. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-022-09378-7
MLA
Vinette, Billy, et al. "Routes of administration, reasons for use, and approved indications of medical cannabis in oncology: a scoping review.." BMC cancer, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-022-09378-7
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Routes of administration, reasons for use, and approved indi..." RTHC-04279. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/vinette-2022-routes-of-administration-reasons
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.