Practical Considerations for the Use of Cannabis in Cancer Pain Management-What a Medical Oncologist Should Know

Pain is a highly debilitating emotional and sensory experience that significantly affects quality of life (QoL). Numerous chronic conditions, including cancer, are associated with chronic pain. In the setting of malignancy, pain can be a consequence of the tumor itself or of life-saving interventions, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Despite significant pharmacological advances and awareness campaigns, pain remains undertreated in one-third of patients. To date, opioids have been the mainstay of cancer pain management. The problematic side effects and unsatisfactory pain relief of opioids have revived patients' and physicians' interest in finding new solutions, including cannabis and cannabinoids. The medical use of cannabis has been prohibited for decades, and it remains in Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations. Currently, the legal context for its usage has become more permissive. Various preclinical and observational studies have aimed to prove that cannabinoids could be effective in cancer pain management. However, their clinical utility must be further supported by high-quality clinical trials.

Automated summary

Pain is a debilitating experience that significantly affects quality of life in chronic conditions, including cancer. Opioids have been the mainstay of cancer pain management, but their side effects and unsatisfactory relief have led to interest in alternative solutions, such as cannabis and cannabinoids. However, the legal context for medical use of cannabis remains restrictive, and further high-quality clinical trials are needed to support their clinical utility.