Cannabis use among Dutch patients with a primary brain tumor

TL;DR

Many Dutch brain tumor patients use cannabis for symptom relief or to potentially fight cancer, with CBD being preferred over THC.

Contribution

First study to investigate cannabis use patterns and motivations in Dutch primary brain tumor patients.

Findings

51% of patients had ever used cannabis, with 14% currently using it.

CBD was preferred over THC, and users reported improved sleep and reduced anxiety.

Common adverse effects included drowsiness, dry mouth, and dizziness.

Abstract

Cancer patients commonly use cannabis to improve symptoms or for presumed anticancer effects. However, the extent and type of cannabis use among Dutch primary brain tumor patients, along with their motivations, remains unclear. This study aims to determine the prevalence of prior or current cannabis use in patients with a primary brain tumor, the type of cannabis used, their motivation, how they perceived the effects of the cannabis, and what adverse effects they noticed.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of adult primary brain tumor patients who visited the neuro-oncology outpatient clinic at Amsterdam UMC between August and October 2023.

Of 100 responding patients, 51% had ever used cannabis and 14% currently used cannabis. Of the total group, 19% currently or previously used cannabis for tumor-related reasons, including symptom relief (n = 14; 74%) and presumed effect on the tumor (n = 8; 42%), indicating that some patients used it for multiple therapeutic purposes. Patients favored cannabidiol (CBD) over Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Self-reported sleep, anxiety, worrying, and depressive symptoms most frequently improved due to cannabis use, and the most common self-reported adverse events included drowsiness, dry mouth, and dizziness.

A considerable amount of primary brain tumor patients use cannabis, often for symptom relief or presumed antitumor effects. The user rate underscores a demand for clinical research into the therapeutic efficacy of cannabis, particularly concerning its impact on symptoms like sleep disturbances, depressive symptoms, and anxiety/worrying, as well as its tumor-inhibiting capabilities.

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