In a groundbreaking study published in the journal Exploration in Medicine, University of Colorado Cancer Center researcher Angela Bryan, PhD, uncovered a surprising finding: over-the-counter cannabis products not only help cancer patients cope with pain, anxiety, sleeplessness, and depression but also improve their cognitive function.
Bryan, a former breast cancer patient who used cannabis to manage her pain during treatment, has focused her recent research on the effects of legalized cannabis in Colorado. This particular study aimed to investigate the potential benefits of over-the-counter cannabis products for cancer patients dealing with various symptoms.
Unexpected Cognitive Improvement
The study observed 25 cancer patients over a two-week period, assessing their baseline sleep patterns, pain levels, and cognitive function before and after using cannabis products of their choice, purchased from dispensaries. While the researchers anticipated improvements in pain, sleep, anxiety, and depression, the cognitive enhancement came as a surprise.
"Participants' subjective cognition — feeling like they could think clearly — actually got better with cannabis use," Bryan explains. She attributes this improvement to the reduction in pain, stating, "We know that being in pain can compromise cognition tremendously, so we think there might be a connection there."
Studying Acute and Long-Term Effects
To gather comprehensive data, Bryan and her team retested participants' physical and cognitive levels immediately after ingesting the cannabis product and again after two weeks of sustained use. The improvements in pain levels, sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression were expected, but the cognitive enhancement was an unexpected finding.
Bryan notes that concerns about compromised cognition in cancer patients undergoing treatment are common, with many patients experiencing brain fog and slower cognition even after treatment concludes. The study's results suggest that cannabis may not only alleviate these concerns but actually improve cognitive function.
The Quest for More Data
The ultimate goal of Bryan's research at the University of Colorado's Center for Health and Neuroscience, Genes, and Environment (CUChange) is to provide oncologists with more data to guide their recommendations of cannabis products for patients. Due to the federal classification of cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug, conducting rigorous trials that yield solid data remains challenging.
To address this issue, the center is currently conducting a larger, more rigorous study using hemp-derived CBD, a federally legal product. This study will employ a randomized controlled trial with a placebo, allowing for more controlled dosing and experimental conditions.
Bryan emphasizes the urgency of this research, as an estimated 30% to 40% of cancer patients are already using cannabis to manage their symptoms without clear guidance from oncologists regarding product selection and dosage.
"It's the wild West, and people are making their best guess about what they think might help them," Bryan says. "We're way behind, and I feel like we have a moral imperative to try to get this work done as quickly as we can."
As research into the therapeutic potential of cannabis for cancer patients continues, studies like Bryan's shed light on the multifaceted benefits of this once-controversial substance. With more rigorous trials on the horizon, oncologists and patients alike can look forward to evidence-based guidance on incorporating cannabis into cancer treatment and symptom management plans.
