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World Cancer Day: Medical Cannabis & Cancer

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World Cancer Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about cancer and promote efforts to prevent, detect, and treat the disease. For those living with cancer, managing the physical and emotional challenges of this condition can feel overwhelming. Medical cannabis is increasingly being explored for patients experiencing difficult symptoms like pain, appetite loss, and nausea during treatment.

We’ll look into the latest research on medical cannabis in cancer care and highlight how Curaleaf Clinic offers tailored support to patients on their journey.

What is World Cancer Day?

Observed annually on 4th February, World Cancer Day unites individuals and organisations worldwide in the fight against cancer. Led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), this initiative aims to prevent millions of cancer deaths through awareness, education, and action.

Since its establishment in 2000, World Cancer Day has inspired global efforts to improve access to care and reduce disparities in cancer treatment. It’s more than a single day of observance; it’s a call to action, mobilising communities and individuals. Campaigns like “United by Unique,” running from 2025 to 2027, highlight the personal stories behind every diagnosis, promoting compassionate, individualised care.

To learn more or get involved, visit the official World Cancer Day website.

Can Medical Cannabis Help Cancer Patients?

Medical cannabis isn’t a cure for cancer, but research suggests it can play a role for patients experiencing symptoms such as pain, nausea or fatigue due to cancer or its treatment. Medical cannabis is not an appropriate option for everyone but can be considered when first-line treatments for these troublesome symptoms have failed to get them under control.

One area of significant interest is appetite stimulation for patients experiencing cancer-related weight loss 1. Chemotherapy and the disease itself can lead to a loss of appetite and severe weight loss. Compounds in the cannabis plant, such as tetrahydrocannabinol, have been shown to lead to an increase in appetite. However, research is still ongoing to determine the true effects of helping address cancer-related appetite and weight loss.

For patients undergoing chemotherapy, medical cannabis has shown effectiveness in managing nausea and vomiting, which are common and debilitating side effects of this treatment. There is a licensed medical cannabis treatment, nabilone, which is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for people who have failed to benefit from first-line anti-sickness medications on the NHS. This medication acts similarly to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). At Curaleaf Clinic, our expertise lies in prescribing unlicensed medical cannabis products. These are typically available in a wider variety of formats, including oils, pastilles, dried flowers, and vape cartridges. Moreover, they usually also contain other compounds from the cannabis plant, such as cannabidiol (CBD), minor cannabinoids, and terpenes.

The most common reason why medical cannabis is prescribed according to data from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry is pain. Chronic or severe pain is a common issue for cancer patients, and medical cannabis may be appropriate where conventional treatments fall short.

Ongoing Research

While cannabis shows potential for addressing cancer symptoms, its role in oncology continues to evolve. Compounds like cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids are being studied for their potential anti-cancer effects, though these applications remain experimental 2. Additionally, caution is advised for patients combining cannabis with immunotherapies, as interactions are not yet fully understood 3.

Medical cannabis provides a new option patients can turn to for managing symptoms, but more research is still needed to fully understand its therapeutic potential and to enable it to be more widely prescribed on the NHS.

How Curaleaf Supports Cancer Patients

At Curaleaf Clinic, we take a personalised approach to medical cannabis treatment, focusing on the unique needs of each patient. For those living with cancer, our goal is to help manage symptoms and quality of life through tailored therapies.

Curaleaf Clinic is dedicated to providing compassionate, expert care to support patients at every stage of their cancer journey. We support cancer patients by addressing specific symptoms with targeted care plans. By combining medical expertise with personalised treatment, we aim to empower patients and their families.

Below, you’ll find an overview of medical cannabis and key challenges faced by those living with cancer.

Cancer-Related Appetite Loss

Maintaining a healthy weight can be difficult for patients experiencing reduced appetite due to cancer or its treatment. Medical cannabis may help stimulate appetite. Research is ongoing to establish if this helps cancer patients meet their nutritional needs and maintain energy levels. Find out more on our Cancer-Related Appetite Loss page.

Cancer-Related Pain

Chronic or severe pain is a common symptom for many cancer patients. Cannabinoids, like THC and CBD, are used to manage persistent pain that doesn’t respond to conventional medications. Discover our approach to pain management on the Cancer-Related Pain page.

Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea & Vomiting (CINV)

Nausea and vomiting are frequent side effects of chemotherapy, often making treatment schedules difficult to maintain. Medical cannabis, specifically nabilone, has shown potential in reducing these symptoms, allowing patients to tolerate and complete their therapies with greater ease. Visit our CINV page for more details.

Palliative Care

For patients receiving palliative care, the focus is on enhancing comfort and quality of life. Medical cannabis may be considered for pain, nausea, and anxiety during end-of-life care when other solutions have not worked. Explore our Palliative Care page for additional information.

Conclusion

Medical cannabis has emerged as a promising way to support cancer patients. While it’s not a cure, it can be considered for those left in discomfort due to their cancer or cancer treatments.

At Curaleaf Clinic, we provide personalised care to help patients explore whether medical cannabis could be right for them. Visit our cancer condition pages to learn more or visit our ‘Getting Started’ page to register and find out if you would be eligible for a consultation to discuss your needs with our expert clinicians.

Sources

1 Nimalan, D., Kawka, M., Erridge, S., Ergisi, M., Harris, M., Salazar, O., Ali, R., Loupasaki, K., Holvey, C., Coomber, R., Platt, M., Rucker, J.J., Khan, S. and Sodergren, M.H. (2022). UK Medical Cannabis Registry palliative care patients cohort: initial experience and outcomes. Journal of Cannabis Research, 4(1). doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-021-00114-9. Available Online: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s42238-021-00114-9
2 Tomko, A.M., Whynot, E.G., Ellis, L.D. and Dupré, D.J. (2020). Anti-Cancer Potential of Cannabinoids, Terpenes, and Flavonoids Present in Cannabis. Cancers, 12(7), p.1985. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers12071985. Available Online: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/12/7/1985
3 Abrams, D.I. (2022). Cannabis, Cannabinoids and Cannabis-Based Medicines in Cancer Care. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 21, p.153473542210817. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/15347354221081772. Available Online: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/15347354221081772

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