A new survey by Vanderbilt University at a cancer care clinic revealed interest in CBD but patients are still unsure.
The survey of 100 patients at an oncology care clinic showed participants were interested in CBD as a way to alleviate symptoms. They listed their main symptoms as uncontrolled pain, depression and anxiety.
When asked about their understanding of CBD, 45 percent said they were unsure if there were any risks. A further 17 percent believe there was no or low risks but 25 percent “reported uncertainty of the alleged benefits of using CBD.”
Patient concern
Some of the patients were concerned about the potential for drug interactions, a lack of FDA regulation and unlabelled substances in CBD products.
The most common perceived benefits of CBD were decreased pain, eased anxiety and cancer-related nausea relief.
When it came to learning about CBD, only 13 percent said they learned of CBD through a healthcare provider. The majority at 47 percent said a family member or friend told them about it. A further 36 percent said social media and 13 percent reported television was their main source of information on CBD.
Cancer, cannabis and education
The research was recently published in the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing.
Researchers wrote: “Oncology nurses are well-positioned to educate patients about the lack of evidence to support popular uses of CBD, possible contaminants, misleading advertising, and legal issues.”
“Absolute conclusions about the effects of CBD cannot be made.”
Read more: Study shows just under half of Americans have tried cannabis
Pain survey
Another survey on spine-related pain, not cancer pain revealed that patients are turning to cannabis for help with their symptoms. Data published in the International Journal of Spine Surgery reported that an estimated one in four patients with spine-related pain admits using CBD to combat symptoms.
Researchers anonymously surveyed patients at a spinal surgery clinic in New York for over a month. The survey was distributed by one out of nine spine surgeons at a single institution upon registration.
A quarter said they had either tried CBD or were currently using it for symptom management. Almost half of the users at 46 percent said that it may have mitigated their pain. A further 66.7 percent said they used it for spine-related back pain, 37 percent for neck pain, 35.2 percent for leg pain and 9.3 percent for arm pain. While this is for spine related pain instead of cancer related pain, the percentages show that CBD may also work for cancer pain.
Users turned to CBD with help sleeping with 25.9 percent said it improved their insomnia. A further 33 percent reported it had improved their sleep and 20 percent said it reduced their anxiety.
Both of the surveys on cancer and spine pain show that more education is needed while CBD may have effects on pain.
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