Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38158514›Full record

ArticleJournal of cancer survivorship : research and practice2025

Prevalence, reasons for use, perceived benefits, and awareness of health risks of cannabis use among cancer survivors - implications for policy and interventions.

Ikponmwosa Osaghae, Onyema Greg Chido-Amajuoyi, Rajesh Talluri, Sanjay Shete

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
1.7field-weighted citation impact, top 16% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Ikponmwosa OsaghaeDepartment of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Onyema Greg Chido-AmajuoyiDepartment of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Rajesh TalluriDepartment of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Sanjay SheteDepartment of Epidemiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. sshete@mdanderson.org.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center · US

Funding

Tumor Evolution and Metastasis ProgramP30CA016672 · NCI · UNIVERSITY OF TX MD ANDERSON CAN CTR · PI Scott Kopetz · 1985 to 2026
$290.8M
Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute P30CA016672NCI NIH HHS P30 CA016672
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere is increasing discourse on the use of cannabis as a palliative for cancer/cancer-treatment-related symptoms. We described the prevalent reasons for use, perceived benefits, and awareness of health risks from cannabis use for cancer management among cancer survivors.

methodsCross-sectional survey of adult (≥ 18 years) cancer survivors from 41 US states receiving treatment at a comprehensive cancer center.

resultsOf 1,886 cancer survivors included, 17.4% were current users, 30.5% were former users, and 52.2% were never users of cannabis. Among survivors who currently or formerly used cannabis after their cancer diagnosis (n = 510), the reasons for cannabis use in cancer management were; sleep disturbance (60%), pain (51%), stress (44%), nausea (34%), and mood disorder/depression (32%). Also, about a fifth (91/510) of survivors used cannabis to treat their cancer. Across the different symptoms assessed, over half of the survivors who reported a reason for using cannabis currently or after their cancer diagnosis perceived that cannabis was helpful to a great extent in improving their symptoms. However, of the 167 survivors who reported awareness of potential health risks from cannabis use, the awareness of adverse health risks associated with cannabis use was low: suicidal thoughts (5%), intense nausea and vomiting (6%), depression (11%), anxiety (14%), breathing problems (31%), and interaction with cancer drugs (35%).

conclusionPrevalence of cannabis use among survivors was notable, with most reporting a great degree of symptomatic improvement for the specified reason for use. However, only a few were aware of the health risks of cannabis use during cancer management. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: With more cancer survivors using cannabis as a palliative in managing their cancer-related symptoms, future guidelines and policies on cannabis use in cancer management should incorporate cannabis-based interventions to minimize the inadvertent harm from cannabis use during cancer treatment among survivors.

Indexed as

Cancer SurvivorsHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeMedical MarijuanaNeoplasmsAdultAgedAwarenessCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceYoung AdultMedical MarijuanaCancerCancer survivorsCannabisCannabis benefitsCannabis risksMarijuanaOncology

Identifiers

PMID38158514
PMCPMC11817783
OpenAlexW4390392685

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.