Cannabis use among recently treated cancer patients: Perceptions and experiences.

Authors

null

Talya Salz

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

Talya Salz , Akriti Mishra Meza , Fumiko Chino , Jun J. Mao , Nirupa Jaya Raghunathan , Sankeerth Jinna , Jessica Brens , Helena Furberg , Deborah Korenstein

Organizations

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

Research Funding

U.S. National Institutes of Health
U.S. National Institutes of Health

Background: To characterize cannabis use among cancer patients, we aimed to describe 1) patterns of cannabis use across multiple cancer sites; 2) perceived goals, benefits, harms of cannabis; and 3) communication about cannabis. Methods: Patients with 9 different cancers treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center between March and August 2021 completed an anonymous online survey eliciting cannabis use, attitudes toward cannabis, and communication about cannabis. Multivariable logistic regression estimated the association of cancer type and cannabis use, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and prior cannabis use. Results: Among 1258 respondents, 83% believed there were benefits to cannabis use for cancer patients (N = 1032), and 55% (N = 666) believed there were potential harms. Thirty-one percent (N = 385) used cannabis after diagnosis (range: 25% among lung cancer to 59% among testicular cancer patients). Fifty-two percent of those using cannabis after diagnosis (N = 197) reported use in the past month. Characteristics associated with cannabis use after cancer diagnosis included younger age, lower education level, cancer type, and cannabis use in the year prior to diagnosis. In multivariable analysis, compared to lung cancer patients, gastrointestinal cancer patients were more likely to use cannabis (odds ratio [OR] 2.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25-5.43). Cannabis use in the year prior to diagnosis was strongly associated with cannabis use after diagnosis (OR 19.13, 95% CI 11.92-30.72). Among users, the most common modes of ingestion were eating (30%, N = 115), smoking (26%, N = 99), and pills/tincture (23%, N = 87). The most commonly endorsed reasons for use included difficulty sleeping (48%, N = 182); stress, anxiety, or depression (46%, N = 175); and pain (42%, N = 160); 29% (N = 123) reported using cannabis for recreation, and 5% (N = 17) used for treatment or cure of their cancer. Among respondents who used cannabis to improve symptoms, 70-90% reported improvement; < 5% reported that any symptom worsened. Among cannabis users, 48% (N = 185) discussed cannabis with an oncology provider, and cannabis products were most commonly acquired through friends, family members, or members of the community (47%, N = 176). Conclusions: In a large sample of recently or currently treated patients with a range of cancers, almost a third of patients used cannabis after their cancer diagnosis, most commonly edibles. Patients who used cannabis largely did so for symptom relief rather than with the goal of treating or curing their cancer. Limited communication about cannabis and acquisition of cannabis outside the medical setting suggests that oncology providers may not know about their patients’ cannabis use. To improve informed decision making about cannabis use during cancer care, research to determine benefits and harms of cannabis use is needed alongside enhanced clinical communication.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2023 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Publication Only

Session Title

Publication Only: Symptoms and Survivorship

Track

Symptom Science and Palliative Care

Sub Track

Palliative Care and Symptom Management

Citation

J Clin Oncol 41, 2023 (suppl 16; abstr e24163)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.e24163

Abstract #

e24163

Abstract Disclosures

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