Possible Benefits of Cannabis for People With Cancer

Cannabis has been used with other medicines to help manage cancer pain. Interest in using cannabis for cancer pain is increasing. There are a few reasons for this:

• Some people have trouble tolerating other types of pain medicines, or there is concern about pain medicines being safe because of other health problems. For example, some pain medicines can be harmful for people who have kidney problems.
• Sometimes a person is on many different medicines and treatments that may interact with each other.
• Some people may choose not to take opioids and other pain medicines because they are concerned about addiction.

Studies show mixed results in how effective cannabis is for pain in general. It has been found to be most effective for cancer pain and for nerve (neuropathic) pain. How cannabis is taken and its chemical profile (including THC, CBD, and terpenes) can greatly affect how it’s used to manage pain and what effects it can have on pain.

To help relieve pain for people who haven’t used cannabis in the past, experts recommend low-dose, non-inhaled cannabis products to start. Ingested, sublingual, and topical forms of cannabis are preferred. People who have experience using cannabis may be able to start at higher doses or take more frequent doses.

Nausea and vomiting are among the most common side effects reported by people getting cancer treatment. Anti-nausea medicines, called antiemetics, can be very effective. These include drugs like ondansetron. But sometimes antiemetics aren’t enough, or a person can’t take them for certain reasons. In these cases, cannabis may be considered.

A product that includes both THC and CBD might be more effective than others for nausea. But keep in mind that doses and experiences can vary widely. A certain type and dose of cannabis that helps reduce nausea for one person may be too much or not enough for someone else. Your cancer care team can help you figure out which forms and doses may be best in your situation.

Types of cannabis that might help reduce nausea are generally available in licensed dispensaries in states that consider cannabis legal for medical purposes. Whether you can buy the products without an order or prescription from a doctor depends on the state laws where you live and where you are being treated for cancer.

There are 2 prescription cannabis medicines approved by the FDA for use in treating nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy: dronabinol and nabilone. Both require a doctor’s prescription and are available at most pharmacies, even in states where medical cannabis is illegal.

• Dronabinol (Marinol) is a medicine containing delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and is approved to treat nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy.
• Nabilone (Cesamet) is a synthetic cannabinoid that acts much like THC. It can be taken by mouth to treat nausea and vomiting caused by cancer chemotherapy when other drugs have not worked.

People with cancer can experience a loss of appetite (anorexia) due to cancer or its treatment. If anorexia isn’t managed well, a person may not get enough nourishment. This can lead to a serious condition called cachexia that involves both weight loss and muscle wasting.

Studies show that people with cancer who have anorexia often report improved appetite when they use cannabis. For example, people with advanced cancer who have been part of small studies using THC have reported improved taste and appetite. However, there is very little research on whether CBD might increase appetite or help a person gain weight.

Along with helping nausea and vomiting, dronabinol is approved to help manage weight loss and poor appetite in people who have HIV/AIDS. Some experts recommend its use to help with cancer-related weight loss and anorexia as well.

Many people have anxiety in response to stressful situations. People with cancer are no different, and they may have higher anxiety at different times during their cancer experience. Studies have shown that the main reason people give for using cannabis is to reduce anxiety.

Certain cannabis products can work well to reduce anxiety, particularly when they have both THC combined with CBD. However, products with high amounts of THC can actually increase anxiety.

Sleep is very important for overall health. People with cancer often report insomnia and other problems when trying to fall asleep, stay asleep, or go back to sleep. Cancer-related fatigue and pain, or side effects from treatment, can add to nighttime sleep problems.

Various medicines can be used to help with sleep problems experienced by people with cancer. Cannabis can be used as an alternative or combined with other sleep medicines.

Typically, indica-labeled cannabis products with high levels of CBD tend to have a calming, relaxing effect. Products with a high CBD:THC ratio may be preferred for sleep problems. Studies show that CBD used in higher doses for short periods of time might be helpful in reducing the time needed to fall asleep and increasing the amount of sleep time.

However, some experts don’t recommend using cannabis on a long-term basis because it may have a negative effect on the quality of your sleep. Other studies suggest that stopping cannabis after prolonged use can make sleep problems worse.