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

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

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3517-3524
Number of pages8
JournalSupportive Care in Cancer
Volume24
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2016

Keywords

  • Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
  • Medical cannabis and medical marijuana
  • Quality of life
  • Questionnaire
  • Radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology

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