TY - JOUR
T1 - Perceptions, prevalence, and patterns of cannabis use among cancer patients treated at 12 NCI-Designated Cancer Centers
AU - Ellison, Gary L.
AU - Helzlsouer, Kathy J.
AU - Rosenfield, Sonia M.
AU - Kim, Yun
AU - Ashare, Rebecca L.
AU - Blaes, Anne H.
AU - Cullen, Jennifer
AU - Doran, Neal
AU - Ebbert, Jon O.
AU - Egan, Kathleen M.
AU - Heffner, Jaimee L.
AU - Lee, Richard T.
AU - McClure, Erin A.
AU - McDaniels-Davidson, Corinne
AU - Meghani, Salimah H.
AU - Newcomb, Polly A.
AU - Nugent, Shannon
AU - Hernandez-Ortega, Nicholas
AU - Salz, Talya
AU - Vidot, Denise C.
AU - Worster, Brooke
AU - Zylla, Dylan M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.
PY - 2024/8/1
Y1 - 2024/8/1
N2 - Background: The legal climate for cannabis use has dramatically changed with an increasing number of states passing legislation legalizing access for medical and recreational use. Among cancer patients, cannabis is often used to ameliorate adverse effects of cancer treatment. Data are limited on the extent and type of use among cancer patients during treatment and the perceived benefits and harms. This multicenter survey was conducted to assess the use of cannabis among cancer patients residing in states with varied legal access to cannabis. Methods: A total of 12 NCI-Designated Cancer Centers, across states with varied cannabis-access legal status, conducted surveys with a core questionnaire to assess cannabis use among recently diagnosed cancer patients. Data were collected between September 2021 and August 2023 and pooled across 12 cancer centers. Frequencies and 95% confidence intervals for core survey measures were calculated, and weighted estimates are presented for the 10 sites that drew probability samples. Results: Overall reported cannabis use since cancer diagnosis among survey respondents was 32.9% (weighted), which varied slightly by state legalization status. The most common perceived benefits of use were for pain, sleep, stress and anxiety, and treatment side effects. Reported perceived risks were less common and included inability to drive, difficulty concentrating, lung damage, addiction, and impact on employment. A majority reported feeling comfortable speaking to health-care providers though, overall, only 21.5% reported having done so. Among those who used cannabis since diagnosis, the most common modes were eating in food, smoking, and pills or tinctures, and the most common reasons were for sleep disturbance, followed by pain and stress and anxiety with 60%-68% reporting improved symptoms with use. Conclusion: This geographically diverse survey demonstrates that patients use cannabis regardless of its legal status. Addressing knowledge gaps concerning benefits and harms of cannabis use during cancer treatment is critical to enhance patient-provider communication.
AB - Background: The legal climate for cannabis use has dramatically changed with an increasing number of states passing legislation legalizing access for medical and recreational use. Among cancer patients, cannabis is often used to ameliorate adverse effects of cancer treatment. Data are limited on the extent and type of use among cancer patients during treatment and the perceived benefits and harms. This multicenter survey was conducted to assess the use of cannabis among cancer patients residing in states with varied legal access to cannabis. Methods: A total of 12 NCI-Designated Cancer Centers, across states with varied cannabis-access legal status, conducted surveys with a core questionnaire to assess cannabis use among recently diagnosed cancer patients. Data were collected between September 2021 and August 2023 and pooled across 12 cancer centers. Frequencies and 95% confidence intervals for core survey measures were calculated, and weighted estimates are presented for the 10 sites that drew probability samples. Results: Overall reported cannabis use since cancer diagnosis among survey respondents was 32.9% (weighted), which varied slightly by state legalization status. The most common perceived benefits of use were for pain, sleep, stress and anxiety, and treatment side effects. Reported perceived risks were less common and included inability to drive, difficulty concentrating, lung damage, addiction, and impact on employment. A majority reported feeling comfortable speaking to health-care providers though, overall, only 21.5% reported having done so. Among those who used cannabis since diagnosis, the most common modes were eating in food, smoking, and pills or tinctures, and the most common reasons were for sleep disturbance, followed by pain and stress and anxiety with 60%-68% reporting improved symptoms with use. Conclusion: This geographically diverse survey demonstrates that patients use cannabis regardless of its legal status. Addressing knowledge gaps concerning benefits and harms of cannabis use during cancer treatment is critical to enhance patient-provider communication.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85200828057
U2 - 10.1093/jncimonographs/lgae029
DO - 10.1093/jncimonographs/lgae029
M3 - Article
C2 - 39108244
AN - SCOPUS:85200828057
SN - 1052-6773
VL - 2024
SP - 202
EP - 217
JO - Journal of the National Cancer Institute - Monographs
JF - Journal of the National Cancer Institute - Monographs
IS - 66
ER -