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Medical cannabis in pediatric oncology: a survey of patients and caregivers

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Abstract

Background

There are minimal data regarding the safety and efficacy of cannabis used as an anti-cancer agent or for symptom management in pediatric oncology. We aimed to characterize the prevalence and factors associated with the use of cannabis for the treatment of cancer and management of cancer-related symptoms in children during or after cancer treatment.

Methods

An anonymous 40 question paper survey was offered to patients/caregivers of children with cancer attending a pediatric oncology clinic in a provincially mandated cancer agency between October 2019 and March 2020.

Results

There were 64 respondents included in the analysis. Fourteen participants (N=14/64; 22%) reported use of cannabis, of which half used cannabis for either cancer treatment or symptom management, or both. Leukemia (n=9/14; 64%) was the most frequent diagnosis in children whose caregivers reported using cannabis and the majority of them were still receiving active cancer treatment (N= 5/9; 56%). All of the respondents using cannabis (14/14, 100%) experienced symptom improvement. Most of the caregivers procured cannabis from their friends (N=5/14; 36%), and oil was the most commonly used formulation (N=12/14; 86%). Cannabis-related information was received from another parent (N=4/14; 29%) or from a doctor (N=4/14; 29%). The reported monthly expenditure on cannabis varied widely from less than $50 CAD (N=4/14; 29%) to more than $500 CAD (N=3/14; 21%).

Conclusions

Our survey shows that cannabis, mostly oil products, was used by one-fifth of children with cancer during or after the completion of cancer treatment. These findings require validation in a larger nationwide survey.

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Abbreviations

CBD:

Cannabidiol

THC:

Tetrahydrocannabinol

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    Stacy Chapman, Jennifer Protudjer, Sapna Oberoi & Magimairajan Issai Vanan

  2. Section of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, CancerCare Manitoba, ON-2038, 675 McDermot Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0V9, Canada

    Stacy Chapman, Cathy Bourne, Lauren E. Kelly, Sapna Oberoi & Magimairajan Issai Vanan

  3. The Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    Jennifer Protudjer & Lauren E. Kelly

Authors
  1. Stacy Chapman
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  2. Jennifer Protudjer
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  3. Cathy Bourne
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  4. Lauren E. Kelly
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  5. Sapna Oberoi
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  6. Magimairajan Issai Vanan
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the concepts, conduct, analysis, and writing of this manuscript, have reviewed, and agree upon the contents of this manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Magimairajan Issai Vanan.

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Ethics approval

Approval for this study was granted by the Health Research Ethics Board at the University of Manitoba, as well as CancerCare Manitoba’s Research Resource Impact Committee (REB#H2019:232, RRIC# 2019:021).

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Presentation

International Society of Paediatric Oncology Virtual Congress, October 14–17, 2020, Medical Cannabis in Pediatric Oncology: A Survey of Patients and Caregivers

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Chapman, S., Protudjer, J., Bourne, C. et al. Medical cannabis in pediatric oncology: a survey of patients and caregivers. Support Care Cancer 29, 6589–6594 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06202-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-021-06202-z

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