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Supportive Care in Cancer

Published in:

01-08-2016 | Original Article

Medical marijuana use in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy

Authors: David A. Elliott, Nima Nabavizadeh, Jeanna L. Romer, Yiyi Chen, John M. Holland

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 8/2016

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to better understand why patients with history of head and neck cancer (HNC) treated with radiotherapy are using medical marijuana (MM).

Methods

Established HNC quality of life questionnaires and our own MM quality of life questionnaire were sent to 15 HNC patients treated at our institution who reported using MM. Patients are clinically disease free and currently using MM to manage long-term side effects after curative HNC treatment.

Results

There was a 100 % response rate. Median time from treatment was 45 months (21–136 months). Most patients smoked marijuana (12 patients), while others reported ingestion (4 patients), vaporizing (3 patients), and use of homemade concentrated oil (1 patient). Six patients reported prior recreational marijuana use before diagnosis. MM provided benefit in altered sense, weight maintenance, depression, pain, appetite, dysphagia, xerostomia, muscle spasm, and sticky saliva.

Conclusions

HNC patients report MM use to help with long-term side effects of radiotherapy.

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Title: Medical marijuana use in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients treated with radiotherapy
Authors: David A. Elliott
Nima Nabavizadeh
Jeanna L. Romer
Yiyi Chen
John M. Holland
Publication date: 01-08-2016
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 8/2016
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-016-3180-8

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