Why cancer survivors are turning to cannabis and natural remedies

This Irish national survey examined the use of biologically-based complementary and alternative medicine (BBCAM) among 295 cancer survivors, revealing that use increased significantly from 28% before diagnosis to 34% after diagnosis. Among BBCAM users, "daily-use" nearly doubled from 38% to 72% post-diagnosis, suggesting cancer survivors turn to these approaches more intensively during treatment and recovery. The study provides important insights into what cancer survivors are consuming outside conventional medical care, including dietary supplements, herbal remedies, and other natural products.

Cannabis appeared in 21% of BBCAM users, making it one of the more commonly reported complementary approaches alongside mineral/vitamin supplements (84%), dietary supplements like turmeric and coenzyme-Q10 (78%), and herbal remedies such as mistletoe, echinacea, and ginseng (50%). Survivors also reported using special diets (dairy-free, gluten-free, ketogenic, intermittent fasting) and biological medicines. The primary motivations for BBCAM use were perceived improvement in well-being (63%) and reduced psychological stress (59%), highlighting a significant gap in psychological support within conventional cancer care.

The research underscores an important clinical concern: cancer survivors are self-administering multiple unregulated products that could potentially interact with conventional treatments. The findings suggest healthcare providers need to engage more actively with cancer survivors about their complementary medicine use, particularly regarding cannabis and herbal remedies, to ensure safety and effectiveness during the critical survivorship period.