Benefits and Burdens of Vaporized Botanical Cannabis Flower Bud for Cancer-Related Anorexia: A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of People with Advanced Cancer Enrolled as Inpatients in a Phase I/IIb Clinical Trial and Their Family Carers.

Background

Clinical trials are underway of medicinal cannabis for cancer-related anorexia, using various formulations and modes of administration.

Objectives

To explore the benefits and burdens of vaporized medicinal cannabis flower bud for anorexia from the perspectives of trial participants with advanced cancer and their carers.

Design

People with advanced cancer enrolled as inpatients in a Phase I/IIb clinical trial, and their carers participated in face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Analysis used the framework method.

Setting

Inpatient specialist palliative care.

Results

Ten out of 12 trial participants and 6 carers were interviewed. All perceived benefits to eating but, in two cases, this arose from reduced nausea rather than appetite stimulation. Carers sometimes perceive more benefit than patients. Psychoactive effects were well-tolerated and even enjoyed. Burdens included throat irritation and adverse smell and taste, but these were transient.

Conclusions

Vaporized flower bud warrants comparison with other formulations/modes of medicinal cannabis for cancer-related anorexia.