Study: 71% of Gynecologic Cancer Patients Find Relief from Medical Cannabis

A small study published last week in Gynecologic Oncology Reports found 71% of gynecologic cancer patient enrollees reported self-improvement while using medical cannabis of at least one symptom with 15% of patients discontinuing its use due to the side effects.

The study involved 45 patients with a median age of 60-years-old. The study was conducted by researchers at New York University’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, and the New York University Grossman School of Medicine.

In all, 56% of the patients used medical cannabis for pain, 47% for nausea and vomiting, 33% for anorexia, and 27% for insomnia. More than 70% of the patients reported improvement in nausea and vomiting, with 36% finding medical cannabis relieved their pain.

“In this limited cohort of gynecologic oncology patients, medical marijuana was effective for the relief of nausea/vomiting, anorexia, and insomnia in a majority of patients but was less helpful for pain management.”—Medical Marijuana Utilization in Gynecologic Cancer Patients, Gynecologic Oncology Reports, June 24, 2021

About 55% of patients enrolled in the study were prescribed formulations with a 1:1 THC:CBD ratio. Inhaled and sublingual formulations were prescribed in more than 70% of patients and some were prescribed more than one formulation, which the researchers said limited their “ability to comment on the effectiveness of specific THC:CBD ratios or preparations for specific symptoms.” The researchers also noted that they “did not explicitly exclude patients who used marijuana recreationally.”