Cancer Related Symptoms

It should be first noted that Medicinal Cannabis is not a treatment for cancer, and there is absolutely no good evidence that cannabis can treat cancer. Instead, medicinal cannabis can be used to ameliorate symptoms of diagnosis and/or treatment side effects.

The patient journey following a cancer diagnosis and referral to an oncologist involves a multidisciplinary team to support the patient through collaboration and coordination of treatment on multiple fronts. It is often not easy.

Cancer Treatment Includes The Following

  • Mental Healthcare

  • Appetite Management / Diet

  • Medical Oncology (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy and other drugs to treat cancer)

  • Radiation Oncology (radiation therapy to treat cancer)

  • Surgical Oncology (surgery to treat cancer), and potentially

  • Palliative Medicine

  • General Care

Medicinal Cannabis and Cancer Symptoms

Medicinal cannabis has many uses in the treatment of cancer-related symptoms.

Current research indicates significant therapeutic potential in the following areas:

  • In adults with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), oral cannabinoids are effective antiemetics

  • In adults with chronic pain, patients who were treated with cannabis or cannabinoids are more likely to experience a clinically significant reduction in pain symptoms.

  • In treating spasticity, short-term use of oral cannabinoids improves patient reported spasticity symptoms.

Additional use includes the treatment of:

  • Lack of appetite / Cachexia (body-mass wasting disorder)

  • Sleep disorders / Chronic fatigue

  • Anxiety

  • Seizures

  • Cancer-related cognitive impairment

Medicinal cannabis can provide an adjunct symptomatic treatment option for the multiple side effects that cancer diagnosis and treatment can produce.

  1. Bodine M, Kemp AK. Medical Cannabis Use In Oncology. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK572067/

  1. Cancer Council (https://www.cancer.org.au/cancer-information)

Cannabinoid Receptors

Cannabinoid receptors are found throughout the body, including peripheral and central nervous symptoms, the immune system and organs. Cannabinoid receptors are also found in the pelvis, gut lining and endometrium.

Cannabinoid receptor activity suppresses the emesis response (vomiting) found in oncology patients, along with relieving complex chronic pain pathways. Cannabinoid receptor action also helps to relieve other symptoms associated with oncological treatment, such as bowel dysfunction, wasting (cachexia), sleep disturbance, anxiety and mood changes. Studies have found evidence for tumour suppression due to inhibition of cell proliferation and invasion, induction of apoptosis and enhancement of the body's immune surveillance of tumour cells. However, it is critical to note that the outcomes of such studies should not be interpreted to hold true for every cancer cell line.

One of the main differences between medicinal cannabis and illicit cannabis is that the dose of CBD and THC is controlled and administered in a fashion to maximise symptom management while minimising the perceptual or cognitive changes. In this fashion, people get the best effects with minimal disruption to their day. 

Medicinal cannabis is an increasingly common and safe prescription medication in Australia and is used by many oncology patients for symptomatic relief of conditions resulting from cancer treatment.

To access a prescription, make an appointment through our Cannabis Clinic to see one of our Authorised Prescribing Doctors.