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DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1807930
Effectiveness of cannabis use in pain relief for oncology patients under palliative care
Introduction: Pain is a common and debilitating symptom in cancer patients, especially in those under palliative care, because there is a need for the conceptualization of symptoms as multidimensional experiences. The search for effective methods of relief is a priority in therapy treatment, management, and the onset of long-term survivorship or end-of-life care. The use of Cannabinoids like THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) has shown potential for pain relief and the nausea, emesia and fatigue associated with cancer treatment.
Objectives: To analyze the effectiveness of cannabidiol in relieving pain in oncology patients receiving palliative care.
Methods: An integrative literature review was conducted in the Virtual Health Library (BVS) using the descriptors “cancer pain,” “palliative care,” and “cannabis,” and the Boolean operator ‘AND’ The featured articles were published between 2020 and 2024. A total of 50 articles were initially found, 9 met the criteria.
Results: The administration of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) promotes pain relief in palliative cancer treatment, with improvements in the Visual Analogue Pain Scale (VAR) and in the questionnaire that assesses quality of life in cancer patients (EORTC QLQ 030). However, there were no differences in patient prognosis when comparing the treatment of each drug alone or together, only a more significant improvement in sleep when using THC. With the use of cannabinoids, symptoms related to cancer or anticancer treatment improved, including pain refractory to conventional treatment. There is also the self-prescription use of edible cannabis or tobacco, improving sleep quality, vomiting, nausea, headaches, muscle spasms and anxiety. The effects of improving sleep quality and reducing nausea and vomiting were also obtained using oral oils. Patients using these medications believe that Cannabis is more effective than some conventional treatments, especially in relieving pain, and for some, it also has a positive impact on the prognosis of the disease.
Conclusion: The use of cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD, shows significant potential for alleviating pain and improving symptoms associated with cancer, especially in palliative care. However, these treatments should be used with caution due to the observed side effects from prolonged use, such as memory impairment.
Corresponding author: Laíssa costa Pessanha (e-mail: laissapessanha@id.uff.br).
No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).
Publication History
Article published online:
06 May 2025
© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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Mariana Mendes Geitenes, Laíssa Costa Pessanha, Júlia Costa Pessanha, Pedro Henrique de Oliveira Cavalcante, Vanessa do Nascimento Ladeira, Isabela Silva Erthal Vieira, Moisés de Sousa Veloso, Yasmin da Silva Moura, Letícia Hanna Moura da Silva Gattas Graciolli, Larissa Cristina Soares Barboza de Toledo, Jéssica Manami Seki, João Moraes dos Santos Neves, Jose Aldo de Almeida Oliveira Neto, Beatriz Castro e Silva de Albergaria Barreto, Maria Gabriella Pereira dos Santos, Jayne Ferreira Rocha, Julia Isume. Effectiveness of cannabis use in pain relief for oncology patients under palliative care. Brazilian Journal of Oncology 2025; 21.
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1807930