Cannabis as a Lifeline: Cancer Patients' Experiences and Symptom Management

The purpose of this study was to assess the demographics, reasons, methods, perceived benefits, and costs associated with the use of cannabis among patients with cancer. Paper and electronic surveys in English were offered to patients visiting select oncology offices in Northern California between February 2018 and May 2024. Questions gathered information on participants' demographics, cancer stage, chemotherapy status, methods, and reasons for cannabis use (e.g., appetite, nausea, sleep, pain), symptom severity ratings (1-10) before and after use, and monthly expenditure. Logistic regression analysis was used to compute odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Of the 2602 completed surveys, 643 (24.7%) respondents reported using cannabis. Factors significantly associated with use included younger age (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.95, 0.97), advanced cancer (Stage 4, OR 3.28; 95% CI 1.25, 8.61), and concurrent chemotherapy treatment (OR 2.45; 95% CI 1.80, 3.35). Non-Hispanic White race/ethnicity showed increased odds of use, whereas Hispanic (OR 0.61; CI 0.38, 0.98), Pacific Islander (OR 0.33; CI 0.17, 0.63), and Asian Indians (OR 0.34; CI 0.12, 0.92) had decreased odds. The primary reason for use was improving sleep (56.7%). Preferred methods included smoking/vaping (68%) and edibles (60%), with over 65% of users employing multiple methods. Patients consistently reported perceived symptom improvements, and most spent less than $100 per month. While efficacy evidence remains limited, cancer patients in this cohort who used cannabis reported tangible benefits in symptom management. Controlled research is crucial to determine the clinical benefits and potential harms, enabling clinicians to provide informed guidance on safe and effective cannabis use.