Cancer stage and consideration of cannabis use among adult cancer survivors in Southern California

Abstract

Background: The benefits of cannabis in symptom management among cancer survivors are widely acknowledged; however, patterns of cannabis use by cancer stage at diagnosis are unknown.

Methods: Here, we examined the association between cancer stage at diagnosis and consideration of cannabis use since diagnosis. We analyzed cross-sectional survey data from 954 cancer survivors, weighted to be representative of a National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center's patient population. We used survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression to examine the association between cancer stage at diagnosis (advanced [III/IV] versus non-advanced [I/II]) and consideration of cannabis use (yes versus no) since diagnosis.

Results: Sixty percent of the population was diagnosed with non-advanced stages of cancer, and 42% had considered using cannabis since diagnosis. The odds of consideration of cannabis use were 63% higher (odds ratio = 1.63, 95% confidence interval = 1.06 to 2.49) among cancer survivors diagnosed at stages III/IV than among those diagnosed at stages I/II.

Conclusion: Cancer stage may be a predictor of consideration of cannabis use after diagnosis.