A study on the benefits of medical cannabis for pain related to cancer found that the majority of oncology patients experienced significant improvements in pain measures and reductions in other cancer-related symptoms. The consumption of painkillers was also decreased, and minimal side effects were reported. These findings suggest that medical cannabis could be a safe alternative to traditional pain relief medications for individuals with cancer.
Pain, insomnia, anxiety, and depression are common causes of disability and suffering for oncology patients during treatment, which could negatively impact their prognosis. While opioid analgesics are typically prescribed for pain related to cancer, many oncologists view this treatment as harmful, necessitating alternative options.
The study evaluated the potential benefits of medical cannabis for pain related to cancer in oncology patients, collecting data from the beginning of treatment and following up over time for an extensive analysis of its effectiveness. The researchers recruited certified oncologists who could provide medical cannabis licenses to their cancer patients, and interested patients were referred to the study.
Anonymous questionnaires were completed before treatment began and a few times over the following six months to gather data on side effects, sexual problems, cancer symptom burden, analgesic consumption, and pain measures. The analysis found improvements in many outcome measures, with fewer cancer symptoms and less pain. Opioid and other pain analgesics use was reduced, with about half of the participants quitting all analgesic medications after six months of treatment with medical cannabis.
While medical cannabis has been suggested as a potential appetite loss remedy, weight loss was still experienced by the majority of individuals in the study, which is expected with disease progression. Sexual function improved for most men but worsened for most women. The study provided additional perspectives on medical cannabis, but the wide range of individuals in the study, including age, sex, ethnicity, types of cancer, and stage of cancer, may limit its generalizability.
