Surveyed cancer patients say cannabis improves symptoms
· Medical Xpressby Allison Perry, University of Kentucky
edited by Lisa Lock, reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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A new study by the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center and the Kentucky Cannabis Center provides insight into how some cancer patients are using cannabis, the benefits they report and how physicians can help patients make informed decisions.
Published in The Oncologist, the study recruited 237 adult patients who received radiation for their cancer between July 2023 and February 2024 from an urban and rural oncology practice. Using a self-guided tablet survey, patients answered questions about their symptoms, quality of life, current financial situation and whether they used cannabis, including how they obtained it.
Of those surveyed, just over half reported using unprescribed cannabis for medicinal purposes at some point in their lifetime, while about 15% reported recent use following their cancer diagnosis.
The most common reasons patients reported using cannabis were pain, nausea, anxiety and depression. Of the 35 patients who used cannabis following a cancer diagnosis, 80% reported improvement in their primary symptom, while nearly 89% reported improvement in overall quality of life.
The study shows an opportunity for oncologists to talk openly with patients about their cannabis use—94% of the recent cannabis users noted they would be likely to discuss the subject with their health care providers if given the opportunity.
Meanwhile, many rural radiation oncologists report limited formal education on cannabis pharmacology. The researchers say more education and evidence-based clinical guidance could help clinicians better counsel patients about issues including dosing, potential drug interactions, adverse effects and appropriate monitoring.
"Cancer patients are already turning to cannabis for relief from symptoms related to their illness or treatment," said UK Markey Cancer Center radiation oncologist Aradhana Kaushal, principal investigator on the study. "We want our patients to be able to have these open and honest conversations with their providers about potential cannabis use, and we want our cancer care providers to feel prepared to answer questions and help patients make informed choices."
Additionally, the study showed a method of reaching rural patients for clinical research. By using the tablet survey, the rural oncology practice was able to conduct this research without a dedicated research assistant on site. Because rural patients are often underrepresented in clinical research, approaches like this could help bring more rural voices into studies where staffing and resources are limited.
"We have to be cautious about what self-reported data can tell us, and in this case, the findings don't tell us whether the cannabis itself was the reason for the reported symptom improvement," Kaushal said. "But what's encouraging is that this approach gives us a practical way to include more rural cancer patients in research and make sure their experiences are represented."
More information
Evans Amoah et al., Cannabis assessment in oncology patients—evaluation survey: understanding usage patterns in a rural radiation cohort in Kentucky, The Oncologist (2026). DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyag370
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Citation: Surveyed cancer patients say cannabis improves symptoms (2026, November 12) retrieved 12 November 2026 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-11-surveyed-cancer-patients-cannabis-symptoms.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.