Cancer treatment comes with a wide range of difficult side effects, and people are increasingly turning to medical cannabis to help. Research indicates that between 20% and 40% of cancer patients are doing so these days to help with issues like nausea, pain, and anxiety. While more patients are using medical cannabis, though, most oncologists aren’t prepared to discuss it, according to new research.

A study recently published in the Journal of Cannabis Research surveyed American oncology trainees to see how often they recommend cannabis to patients. Nearly 200 trainees from 40 different programs across 25 states took part in the 2021 survey, which was conducted by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). The goal was to see how well-versed oncology trainees are on the topic of medical cannabis for cancer patients, about which evidence is limited.

Dr. Deepa Rangachari, lead author and director of the Graduate Medical Education & Hematology Oncology Fellowship Program at BIDMC, says, “Patients with cancer are using cannabis, and they’re turning to their doctors for advice. But without high-quality evidence and without structured training, most trainees don’t feel equipped to counsel them appropriately.”

The findings reflect that, with only 24% of respondents reporting prior training on the topic and just 22% of respondents saying they’d recommended medical cannabis to more than five patients over the prior year. Prior training was linked with a higher number of recommendations, as well.

While most recommended oral ingestion as the preferred method of taking the medication, 1 in 6 respondents had no knowledge of a preferred method, further highlighting their uncertainty on the topic.

The uncertainty may not be surprising, though, given the lack of robust research on the impacts of medical cannabis on cancer patients. The study authors note that current evidence suggests it’s effective for chemo-related nausea and vomiting, but there’s not much evidence on whether it helps with side effects like chronic pain and appetite loss.

The team says the findings, coupled with the increased use of medical cannabis among cancer patients, show it’s important to incorporate medical cannabis information into training to help with informed decision-making between doctor and patient. It’s also important so patients can understand possible risks.

The study authors write, “Given the growing evidence on cannabis-related side effects and drug interactions, training should also equip fellows to assess safety risks and counsel patients appropriately, including those using cannabis recreationally. This includes specific domains such as drug interactions, potential interactions with cancer directed therapy such as immunotherapy, hepatotoxicity and side effects.”

If you’d like to read the whole study, you can find it here. To help fund other research that can improve the lives of cancer patients, click here!