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Medical marijuana use in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to better understand why patients with history of head and neck cancer (HNC) treated with radiotherapy are using medical marijuana (MM).

Methods

Established HNC quality of life questionnaires and our own MM quality of life questionnaire were sent to 15 HNC patients treated at our institution who reported using MM. Patients are clinically disease free and currently using MM to manage long-term side effects after curative HNC treatment.

Results

There was a 100 % response rate. Median time from treatment was 45 months (21–136 months). Most patients smoked marijuana (12 patients), while others reported ingestion (4 patients), vaporizing (3 patients), and use of homemade concentrated oil (1 patient). Six patients reported prior recreational marijuana use before diagnosis. MM provided benefit in altered sense, weight maintenance, depression, pain, appetite, dysphagia, xerostomia, muscle spasm, and sticky saliva.

Conclusions

HNC patients report MM use to help with long-term side effects of radiotherapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Medicine, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    David A. Elliott, Nima Nabavizadeh, Jeanna L. Romer & John M. Holland

  2. Department of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA

    Yiyi Chen

Authors
  1. David A. Elliott
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  2. Nima Nabavizadeh
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  3. Jeanna L. Romer
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  4. Yiyi Chen
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  5. John M. Holland
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David A. Elliott.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest. The authors have control of the primary data and agree to a review, if necessary.

Additional information

Poster presentation at the Radiation Oncology national meeting: ASTRO 56th Annual Meeting, September 14–17, 2014 in San Francisco, CA

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Elliott, D.A., Nabavizadeh, N., Romer, J.L. et al. Medical marijuana use in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy. Support Care Cancer 24, 3517–3524 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3180-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3180-8

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