Oncologists Report More Patients Asking About Cannabis Treatments

Modern medicine has come a long way. However, depending on the cancer, patients coping with a cancer diagnosis have only a few specific treatment options. People are constantly looking for new tools to help them cope with the devastating effects of cancer and the side effects caused by treatment options like chemotherapy and radiation. Today, oncologists say they are seeing more and more patients requesting information about medicinal cannabis to help them treat cancer-related pain, anxiety, and appetite loss.

The problem is that many doctors and medical professionals are struggling to answer patient questions, especially in states with limited or prohibitive cannabis policies. Studies increasingly show that cannabis plants have therapeutic and medicinal properties. The research is so significant that the Drug Enforcement Agency is slowly moving forward with rescheduling marijuana from a Schedule I controlled substance, a drug with no medicinal value, down to a Schedule III substance.

Yet doctors remain unsure how to help patients seeking medical marijuana, and some remain downright skeptical about the power of medical marijuana. Where is the middle ground for patients and doctors?

How Oncologists are Navigating Cannabis Questions

New studies suggest cannabis use among cancer patients is growing. Anywhere from 20 to 40 percent of cancer patients consume cannabis or cannabinoids to help them manage cancer and the side effects associated with common cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. There are studies that show the chemical compounds in marijuana may help relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Cannabis therapy may also help reduce anxiety, ease depression, promote better sleep, and address nausea and loss of appetite, side effects commonly associated with chemotherapy treatment.

However, the rise in the popularity of cannabis as a viable therapeutic option for individuals diagnosed with cancer may now be outpacing research that evaluates the safest and most effective ways to use cannabis to help treat cancer-related symptoms and treatment side effects. Only recently has the American Society of Clinical Oncology published clinical guidelines on cannabis use for patients with cancer. The medical organization did not mince words saying, “Cannabis and/or cannabinoid access and use by adults with cancer has outpaced the science supporting their clinical use.”

Interest vs. Hard Science

One of the most pressing challenges the organization found was that the lack of hard scientific evidence and research made it tricky for oncologists to have in-depth conversations with patients about medical cannabis, how to use it, and correct dosing. One study shows that only 40 percent of oncologists and oncology nurses said they were comfortable talking with patients and guiding them though medical cannabis use. More shocking, only 13 percent of survey respondents said they felt “knowledgeable” about therapeutic cannabis.

The problem is patients are highly interested in learning more about how cannabis treatment options may benefit them as they face one of the most challenging struggles of their lives. However, oncologists and other medical professionals may be ill equipped to give these people the advice and guidance they need when it comes to using medicinal cannabis to manage their condition and treatment side effects.

A Significant Disconnect as Medical Marijuana Programs Expand

Today, 38 states have medical marijuana programs. More states are poised to vote on legalizing medical and recreational marijuana within their borders. The marijuana movement shows no signs of slowing down. As medical marijuana programs expand, oncologists and other medical professionals are increasingly facing pressure to educate their patients about viable treatment options.

There was a time in America when many thought of marijuana use as the sole provenance of the young. However, in recent years, more and more older adults are turning to cannabis to help them deal with age-related issues and medical conditions. One AARP-backed study shows that one in five, or almost 21 percent of older adults, consume some form of cannabis. The number of senior citizens using cannabis has nearly doubled in only three years, a number experts expect to continue increasing.

Marijuana is gaining popularity, and legalization is making it easier than ever to access. That leaves medical professionals in an odd void where patients want their expertise and input on the subject. Still, doctors have little training or experience with the substance, meaning it is harder to offer clinical medical advice. Again, some studies show marijuana may help cancer patients manage their pain and other symptoms, but there is little research to show how much cannabis to consume, what strains to use, and which consumption methods yield the best results. Doctors can’t say take two pills and call me in the morning without more research and evidence showing dosing and efficacy rates.

Concerns to Consider

Other concerns that oncologists and patients face concern whether medicinal marijuana is safe to consume when a patient is taking other cancer-related drugs. There is little information on how marijuana interacts with other pharmaceuticals. Some smaller studies seem to indicate that marijuana may suppress the immune system, a significant concern for already immunocompromised chemotherapy and radiation patients. Mohab Ibrahim, M.D., Ph.D., medical director of the Comprehensive Center for Pain & Addiction at the University of Arizona Health Sciences, notes that cannabis can suppress a person’s immune response when used over a long period.

Some strains of cannabis also act like a sedative, helping to relax a person and ease insomnia. However, other cancer treatment drugs also have sedative effects, which may be compounded when a person consumes cannabis in addition to taking their other prescribed medications. Magnifying each drug’s sedative properties can increase drowsiness and elevate a person’s risk of suffering significant falls and accidents.

When do the risks outweigh the benefits and vice versa? It is a challenging line to walk. There is no doubt that there are pros and cons to therapeutic cannabis treatment options for patients diagnosed with cancer. With continued research and efforts by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, medical professionals may have the answers they need to have honest and informative conversations with patients about their cannabis options.

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