Cannabis use in gynecologic cancer patients in a Canadian cancer center.

Gynecol Oncol Rep

Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Published: June 2023

AI Article Synopsis

  • The study aimed to estimate how many patients with gynecologic cancers use cannabis and to understand their usage patterns, as well as the sources from which they get cannabis information.
  • The survey included 46 patients, mainly with ovarian and uterine cancer; 37% were current cannabis users, primarily for pain, anxiety, and insomnia, and most obtained it from recreational dispensaries without a prescription.
  • Many patients were open to discussions about cannabis with their doctors, highlighting a need for better communication and education regarding cannabis use in the context of cancer treatment.

Article Abstract

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of cannabis use in patients with gynecologic malignancies and to describe patterns of cannabis use. Secondary objectives included identifying sources of cannabis information used by patients.

Methods: This is a single institution cross sectional survey conducted in Calgary, Alberta. Patients with a current or prior gynecologic cancer diagnosis were considered for inclusion. Planned analysis included descriptive statistics of patient demographics, and the patterns of cannabis use were described using frequencies and proportions.

Results: Forty-six patients participated in the survey. The most common disease sites were ovarian cancer and uterine cancer, with the majority of patients receiving chemotherapy as part of their treatment (n = 35). Seventeen participants were current cannabis users (37%). The most common symptoms participants used cannabis for were pain (9/17), anxiety (9/17), and insomnia (9/17).Most patients using cannabis did not have a prescription and obtained their cannabis from a recreational dispensary (11/17). Many participants using cannabis had not talked to their doctor about cannabis (9/17). Instead, the most common sources of information about cannabis were cannabis retailers (20/46), and friends/family (20/46). Over 50% of patients would be interested in discussing cannabis if their physician broached the subject (26/46).

Conclusions: The results from this survey indicate that patients would like to talk to their oncologist about cannabis. Further research is needed to inform physician training and direct patient education to ensure that patients have access to unbiased, evidence-based information to make decisions about cannabis use.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10236193PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gore.2023.101210DOI Listing

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