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CANCER PATIENT-REPORTED RISKS AND BENEFITS OF CANNABIS: DIFFERENCES BASED ON CONSUMPTION BEFORE AND AFTER DIAGNOSIS
Location: 91
Mentor: Dr. Denise Vidot
Purpose: Evidence suggests that cannabis may alleviate cancer-related symptoms, yet its long-term effects remain unclear. This study examines perceptions of the risks and benefits of cannabis consumption (CB+).
Methods: Data are from the Cannabis and Cancer Study. Socio-demographics, cancer stage, and CB+ were collected via REDCap. The NCI-Cannabis Core Questionnaire was used to assess perceptions of cannabis risks and benefits. Chi-squared/Fisher’s exact tests examined differences in perceived risks and benefits; statistical significance was p < 0.05.
Results: In the sample (N=437), 45.8% reported CB+ in the past 30-days. The most frequently reported perceived risk was impaired memory (31.5%); the most frequently reported perceived benefit (62.0%) was the relief of stress, anxiety, or depression. The perceived risk of increased use of illicit substances other than cannabis was significantly higher in those who started using cannabis after diagnosis (15.4%) versus before diagnosis (5.9%, p = 0.03). Among perceived benefits, improved nausea (58.1% vs 32.3%, p = 0.03), decreased use of illicit substances other than cannabis (23.0% vs 6.2%, p
