Pain Management for Post-Treatment Survivors of Complex Cancers: A Qualitative Study of Opioids and Cannabis

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to understand experiences with opioids and cannabis for post-treatment cancer survivors. Patients & methods: We conducted seven focus groups among head and neck and lung cancer survivors, using standard qualitative methodology to explore themes around 1) post-treatment pain and 2) utilization, perceived benefits and perceived harms of cannabis and opioids. Results & conclusion: Survivors (N = 25) experienced addiction fears, stigma and access challenges for both products. Opioids were often perceived as critical for severe pain. Cannabis reduced pain and anxiety for many survivors, suggesting that anxiety screening, as recommended in guidelines, would improve traditional pain assessment. Opioids and cannabis present complex harms and benefits for post-treatment survivors who must balance pain management and minimizing side effects.

Keywords: :

• cancer
• cancer survivors
• cannabis
• head and heck neoplasms
• opioid

Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.futuremedicine.com/doi/suppl/10.2217/pmt-2023-0067

Author contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception, design, and methodology. Patient recruitment was performed by S Jinna, A Salner, G Rabinowits, B Currier and A Kriplani. Data collection was performed by T Salz, S Jinna, J Brens, D Korenstein, S Chimonas, B Currier and G Rabinowits. Data analyses were performed by S Chimonas, T Salz, J Brens and S Jinna. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Financial disclosure

This work was supported by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Support Grant from the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA008748) and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Interdisciplinary Population Science Research Award (P30 CA008748 Cancer Center Support Grant supplement). T Salz has received research support from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Competing interests disclosure

D Korenstein's spouse consults for Takeda and sits on the scientific advisory board of Vedanta Biosciences. No connection to this work. B Daly reports serving on an advisory board for Varian Medical Systems and owns equity in Roche outside the submitting work. The authors have no other competing interests or relevant affiliations with any organization or entity with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Writing disclosure

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

The authors state that informed consent has been obtained from the participants involved.