Cancer pain, often stemming from the disease itself or its spread, is a significant concern for many cancer patients. With approximately 365,477 new cancer cases diagnosed annually in the UK, and pain affecting a reported 45% of those patients, the need for effective and well-tolerated pain management strategies is crucial.
Current approaches often involve opioid painkillers. While effective for many, these medications can be associated with side effects like constipation, nausea, vomiting, and sedation, which some patients find difficult to manage. This underscores the need for exploring additional options for cancer pain management.
The Endocannabinoid System and Potential Therapeutic Applications
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has emerged as a potential target for pain management, including cancer-related pain. This complex system, found throughout the body, plays a role in various physiological processes. Research suggests that activating cannabinoid receptors within the ECS may produce analgesic and antinociceptive effects, suggesting a possible therapeutic role for cannabinoids.
While anecdotal reports of cannabis use for pain are common among cancer patients, with some studies indicating usage rates around 40%, robust clinical evidence supporting the use of cannabis-based medicines for cancer pain remains somewhat limited, with more research required to understand whether it is a safe and effective treatment.
The UK Medical Cannabis Registry: Real-World Insights
In 2019, Curaleaf Clinic launched the UK Medical Cannabis Registry, the first patient registry tracking real-world outcomes for patients prescribed medical cannabis for a range of conditions, including cancer pain. This registry provides valuable data on how patients respond to medical cannabis in a clinical setting.
A recent study analysed data from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry to evaluate the outcomes of patients prescribed medical cannabis for cancer pain. The study examined patient-reported outcomes, including pain levels and quality of life, at baseline, and then at 1, 3, and 6-month intervals. Adverse events associated with medical cannabis treatment were also recorded. The final analysis included 168 patients.
Key Findings from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry Analysis
Patients completed several validated questionnaires, including the Brief Pain Inventory short form (BPI), assessing pain severity and interference; the pain visual analogue scale (VAS); the EQ-5D-5L, measuring health-related quality of life; the GAD-7, screening for anxiety symptoms; the SQS, evaluating sleep quality; and the PGIC, capturing perceived improvement.
The analysis revealed some interesting trends:
Pain: Changes were observed across all pain scales (BPI-Severity, BPI-Interference, and Pain-VAS) at each follow-up point (1, 3, and 6 months).
General Health: Changes in anxiety (GAD-7) and sleep quality (SQS) were seen at all follow-up points. Mobility (EQ-5D-5L) improved at 1 month.
Other Quality of Life Measures: Changes were noted in other EQ-5D-5L domains, including anxiety and depression, pain and discomfort, and usual activities.
Adverse Events: A small number of patients (five) reported a total of twenty-nine adverse events, most commonly fatigue and lethargy.
These findings suggest that medical cannabis may have a role in managing cancer-related pain and potentially improving quality of life. It’s important to acknowledge that this study, while providing valuable real-world data, does not establish a causal relationship. Further research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of medical cannabis for cancer pain.
The Curaleaf Access Scheme
Curaleaf Clinic is extremely grateful to all patients participating in the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. Your contributions continue to allow us to better our understanding of medical cannabis and how it impacts those living with cancer pain and a wide range of other symptoms and conditions.
By joining the Curaleaf Access Scheme, patients can reduce the cost of their ongoing care while also contributing to this important research. This research is vital for the continued improvement of patient care and to inform clinical guidelines for medical cannabis in the UK.
