Survey: Marijuana aids breast cancer patients, but many hide use from doctors
New survey results reveal many patients with breast cancer smoke, vape or consume marijuana to alleviate symptoms and side effects from treatments — but most of them hide the cannabis use from their doctors.
And the hesitancy goes both ways. Existing research has shown that doctors feel they lack the necessary information to discuss or recommend marijuana use during or after cancer treatment, despite cancer being a qualified condition in nearly all states that have medical cannabis programs.
Of 612 breast cancer patients who completed an anonymous online survey, 39% said they have asked their doctors about marijuana; 76% of these talks were initiated by the patient, mostly those who were older in age. Among this group however, younger patients were more likely to feel supported by their physician, according to the study recently published in Cancer, a journal from the American Cancer Society.
In all, 28% of survey respondents said they felt uncomfortable discussing cannabis with their doctors. Researchers speculate the social stigma around using marijuana may be to blame.
Instead, patients are seeking out information on medical cannabis from the internet, other patients, and friends and family, the survey shows. Physicians were among the least likely people patients turned to for advice.
“Not knowing whether or not our cancer patients are using cannabis is a major blind spot in our ability to provide optimal care,” study lead author Dr. Marisa Weiss, chief medical officer and founder of Breastcancer.org, said in a release. “As health care providers, we need to do a better job of initiating informed conversations about medical cannabis with our patients to make sure their symptoms and side effects are being adequately managed.”