TY - JOUR
T1 - A Coala-T-Cannabis Survey Study of breast cancer patients' use of cannabis before, during, and after treatment
AU - Weiss, Marisa C.
AU - Hibbs, Julianne E.
AU - Buckley, Meghan E.
AU - Danese, Sherry R.
AU - Leitenberger, Adam
AU - Bollmann-Jenkins, Melissa
AU - Meske, Sam W.
AU - Aliano-Ruiz, Katherine E.
AU - McHugh, Theresa W.
AU - Larson, Sharon L.
AU - Le, Elaine H.
AU - Green, Nancye L.
AU - Gilman, Paul B.
AU - Kaklamani, Virginia G.
AU - Chlebowski, Rowan T.
AU - Martinez, Diana M.
N1 - Funding Information:
Marisa C. Weiss reports a grant and support to attend scientific meetings for the presentation of posters from Ananda Health/Ecofibre and a leadership role with Breastcancer.org. Virginia G. Kaklamani reports consulting fees from Puma, AstraZeneca, and Gilead; payments or honoraria from Pfizer, Genentech, Puma, AstraZeneca, Daichi, Seagen, and Gilead; and participation on a board for BMS. Rowan T. Chlebowski reports consulting fees from Novartis, AstraZeneca, Amgen, Immunomedics, and Genentech and payments or honoraria from Novartis and AstraZeneca. The other authors made no disclosures. This Coala-T-Cannabis Survey Study was led by Socanna in partnership with Breastcancer.org, was conducted by Outcomes Insights, and was supported by research grants from Ananda Health/Ecofibre and the Dr. Philip Reeves Legacy Fund. The contribution of Diana M. Martinez is supported by 5K24DA050087. The authors were responsible for the preparation, review, approval, and submission of the manuscript for publication; the grantors had no role in the design and conduct of the study; the analysis and interpretation of the data; or the manuscript submission. The Women's Health Initiative is supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute through contracts N01WH22110, 24152, 32100-2, 32105-6, 32108-9, 32111-13, 32115, 32118-32119, 32122, 42107-26, 42129-32, and 44221; HHSN268201600003C, HHSN268201600004C, and R25CA203650 also partially supported the development of this article.
Funding Information:
This Coala‐T‐Cannabis Survey Study was led by Socanna in partnership with Breastcancer.org, was conducted by Outcomes Insights, and was supported by research grants from Ananda Health/Ecofibre and the Dr. Philip Reeves Legacy Fund. The contribution of Diana M. Martinez is supported by 5K24DA050087. The authors were responsible for the preparation, review, approval, and submission of the manuscript for publication; the grantors had no role in the design and conduct of the study; the analysis and interpretation of the data; or the manuscript submission. The Women's Health Initiative is supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute through contracts N01WH22110, 24152, 32100‐2, 32105‐6, 32108‐9, 32111‐13, 32115, 32118‐32119, 32122, 42107‐26, 42129‐32, and 44221; HHSN268201600003C, HHSN268201600004C, and R25CA203650 also partially supported the development of this article.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 American Cancer Society
PY - 2022/1/1
Y1 - 2022/1/1
N2 - Background: The goal of this study was to characterize cannabis use among patients with breast cancer, including their reasons for and timing of use, their sources of cannabis information and products, their satisfaction with the information found, their perceptions of its safety, and their dialogue about cannabis with their physicians. Methods: United States–based members of the Breastcancer.org and Healthline.com communities with a self-reported diagnosis of breast cancer within 5 years (age ≥ 18 years) were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey. After informed consent was obtained, nonidentifiable data were collected and analyzed. Results: Of all participants (n = 612), 42% (n = 257) reported using cannabis for relief of symptoms, which included pain (78%), insomnia (70%), anxiety (57%), stress (51%), and nausea/vomiting (46%). Furthermore, 49% of cannabis users believed that medical cannabis could be used to treat cancer itself. Of those taking cannabis, 79% had used it during treatment, which included systemic therapies, radiation, and surgery. At the same time, few (39%) had discussed it with any of their physicians. Conclusions: A significant percentage of survey participants (42%) used cannabis to address symptoms; approximately half of these participants believed that cannabis could treat cancer itself. Most participants used cannabis during active cancer treatment despite the potential for an adverse event during this vulnerable time. Furthermore, most participants believed that cannabis was safe and were unaware that product quality varied widely and depended on the source. This study reviews the research on medicinal cannabis in the setting of these findings to help physicians to recognize its risks and benefits for patients with cancer. Lay Summary: Almost half of patients with breast cancer use cannabis, most commonly during active treatment to manage common symptoms and side effects: pain, anxiety, insomnia, and nausea. However, most patients do not discuss cannabis use with their physicians. Instead, the internet and family/friends are the most common sources of cannabis information. Furthermore, most participants believe that cannabis products are safe and are unaware that the safety of many products is untested.
AB - Background: The goal of this study was to characterize cannabis use among patients with breast cancer, including their reasons for and timing of use, their sources of cannabis information and products, their satisfaction with the information found, their perceptions of its safety, and their dialogue about cannabis with their physicians. Methods: United States–based members of the Breastcancer.org and Healthline.com communities with a self-reported diagnosis of breast cancer within 5 years (age ≥ 18 years) were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey. After informed consent was obtained, nonidentifiable data were collected and analyzed. Results: Of all participants (n = 612), 42% (n = 257) reported using cannabis for relief of symptoms, which included pain (78%), insomnia (70%), anxiety (57%), stress (51%), and nausea/vomiting (46%). Furthermore, 49% of cannabis users believed that medical cannabis could be used to treat cancer itself. Of those taking cannabis, 79% had used it during treatment, which included systemic therapies, radiation, and surgery. At the same time, few (39%) had discussed it with any of their physicians. Conclusions: A significant percentage of survey participants (42%) used cannabis to address symptoms; approximately half of these participants believed that cannabis could treat cancer itself. Most participants used cannabis during active cancer treatment despite the potential for an adverse event during this vulnerable time. Furthermore, most participants believed that cannabis was safe and were unaware that product quality varied widely and depended on the source. This study reviews the research on medicinal cannabis in the setting of these findings to help physicians to recognize its risks and benefits for patients with cancer. Lay Summary: Almost half of patients with breast cancer use cannabis, most commonly during active treatment to manage common symptoms and side effects: pain, anxiety, insomnia, and nausea. However, most patients do not discuss cannabis use with their physicians. Instead, the internet and family/friends are the most common sources of cannabis information. Furthermore, most participants believe that cannabis products are safe and are unaware that the safety of many products is untested.
KW - breast cancer
KW - cannabis
KW - marijuana
KW - palliation
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U2 - 10.1002/cncr.33906
DO - 10.1002/cncr.33906
M3 - Article
C2 - 34636036
AN - SCOPUS:85116791900
SN - 0008-543X
VL - 128
SP - 160
EP - 168
JO - Cancer
JF - Cancer
IS - 1
ER -