Breast cancer will affect 1 in 8 women in their lifetime. In the United States alone, there are over 4 million breast cancer survivors. One study from 2021 found 42% of women with breast cancer surveyed “reported using cannabis for relief of symptoms, which included pain (78%), insomnia (70%), anxiety (57%), stress (51%), and nausea/vomiting (46%).” 

The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is why we’re highlighting the important therapeutic role marijuana can play for people fighting and recovering from breast cancer. Here, we explore the potential benefits and what to consider when using marijuana for breast cancer. 

The Role of Marijuana in Cancer Care

While the jury is still out on whether patients can use marijuana to fight cancer, “medical marijuana appears to have an important role in the palliation of symptoms in advanced cancers,” according to a 2022 study. 

The active chemicals in cannabis are known as cannabinoids and are the reason the plant has so many positive benefits for people who consume it. These compounds react with receptors in the body found in the endocannabinoid system. While more research is required to truly understand how to harness the power of the endocannabinoid system in fighting cancer, one study on the endocannabinoid system from 2020 hypothesizes that “cannabinoids hold great promise for brain active targeting.” 

Cannabinoids in cannabis provide various effects that could be beneficial for people with cancer, ranging from improving appetite to alleviating symptoms of nausea. “Clinical results with preparations containing Δ9-THC, CBD, and palmitoylethanolamide are greatly promising for several disorders,” according to a study on therapeutic use in clinical practice. 

There are around 80-100 cannabinoids that naturally occur in cannabis. The most widely used cannabinoids that have therapeutic benefits are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive cannabinoid that alters mood and gets users high, and cannabidiol (CBD), which has no psychoactive properties. 

Scientific research into the therapeutic benefits of marijuana for cancer patients is still relatively new. However, people have been utilizing the cannabis plant as medicine around the world for thousands of years. 

Potential Benefits of Marijuana for Breast Cancer Patients

From pain relief to mood enhancement, fighting nausea, and increasing appetite, marijuana can have a variety of benefits for breast cancer patients. 

Pain relief and management

Many people utilize marijuana to relieve and manage pain associated with breast cancer. Cannabinoids like THC or CBD bind to endocannabinoid receptors to slow pain down and help ease discomfort. 

According to a 2021 study in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, "there is a demonstrated role of the endocannabinoid system in the regulation of pain transmission and a preponderance of preclinical research to show that exogenous cannabinoids can modulate pain perception and pathophysiology," which includes the use of marijuana. 

"Research regarding pain management is limited within the USA as the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) classifies it as a schedule one drug," however, this 2023 study into utilizing cannabis for pain relief still found that "medical cannabis use provides adequate pain management." 

Mitigation of chemotherapy side effects

Chemotherapy uses powerful chemicals to kill cancer cells outright or stop their growth. Unfortunately, there's a long list of side effects that come with this treatment due to its targeted nature, including hair loss, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, low blood cell counts, and more. Marijuana is popular for people with breast cancer because it can help with some of these side effects. 

Cannabis is sometimes called "dope" but can surprisingly be used to fight fatigue. In one 2022 study, the "majority of patients experienced decreased fatigue from consumption of Cannabis flower." 

Nausea and vomiting 

Nausea and vomiting are a common symptom of breast cancer. According to a 2023 study, the majority of people who used cannabis to fight symptoms like nausea and vomiting found "75% reported that it was very/beneficial in treating their symptoms. The study also states, "cannabis appears to be a well-tolerated, efficient, and safe option for patients to manage pain and other symptoms associated with cancer." 

Appetite stimulation

Loss of appetite is another symptom of breast cancer and breast cancer treatment. Maintaining a healthy diet during treatment is vital for healing, managing side effects, and maintaining strength.

It's no secret that marijuana causes its users to feel hungry, so consuming it may be a short-term fix to increasing a breast cancer patient's appetite temporarily.

Most evidence is anecdotal at this point, and, as one study on the efficacy of medicinal cannabis for appetite-related symptoms in people with cancer suggested, "future research should carefully consider biological mechanisms to guide the more nuanced selection of endpoints and interventions, including product, dose, and administration."

Potential anti-cancer properties

Marijuana isn't just crucial for mitigating a breast cancer patient's symptoms. Many scientists consider it to have anti-cancer properties as well. According to one study into the anti-cancer potential of cannabidiol, "cannabinoids, notably Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) have gained renewed interest in the medical field due to their anti-cancer properties.

These properties include inhibiting tumor growth and cell invasion, anti-inflammatory effects, and the induction of autophagy and apoptosis."

Inhibition of tumor growth

Slowing down or inhibiting tumor growth is vital to preventing cancer from spreading to other parts of the body. In one literature review into the anti-cancer potential of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, which are all found in marijuana, "cannabinoids display anticancer effects in several models by suppressing the proliferation, migration and/or invasion of cancer cells, as well as tumor angiogenesis." 

It's not just cannabinoids present in marijuana that may be able to inhibit tumor growth; the same study went on to say, "Cannabis contains several other compounds that have also been shown to exert anti-tumorigenic actions," which means there is evidence to support the potential for marijuana to inhibit the growth of tumors. 

Induction of apoptosis in cancer cells

Apoptosis eliminates cancer cells by targeting them directly to kill them off and maintain a healthier balance of cells in the body. One 2023 study by Frontiers in Pharmacology found that "cannabinoids can affect the key functions of cells in inflammatory or cancer diseases, such as proliferation, migration, cytokine formation, differentiation, autophagy, and apoptosis."

Psychological benefits

Cancer can take a toll on the mind as well as the body. Psychological symptoms include anxiety, depression, loneliness, and more. A study into the application of cannabinoids in mental disorders cited "a recent double-blind, placebo-controlled study with healthy adults showed that a low dose (7.5 mg) of oral THC significantly reduced self-reported subjective distress after a psychosocial stressor, while high doses (12.5 mg) increased negative mood overall," which suggests smaller doses of marijuana could be the best option to help with the negative psychological symptoms of breast cancer.  

Reduction of anxiety and depression

Anxiety and depression are two of the most common psychological symptoms of breast cancer patients. Marijuana can reduce feelings of helplessness, depression, and anxiety in patients. One study found "medical cannabis users perceived a 50% reduction in depression and a 58% reduction in anxiety and stress following cannabis use." 

Improved quality of life

Marijuana has been shown in many cases to reduce pain, anxiety, and depression in cancer patients. It may also increase appetite, improve mood, and potentially provide anti-cancer properties. All of these benefits can lead to an improved quality of life for breast cancer patients.

There are "significant improvements in quality-of-life measures and patients' overall satisfaction with their treatment," according to one study into the role of cannabidiol in the improvement of the quality of life in cancer patients from 2022. 

Risks and Considerations

While there can be many positives to consuming marijuana for breast cancer patients, there are some associated risks that range from legal considerations to side effects and interactions with conventional cancer treatments. 

Legal status and access to marijuana

The 2018 Farm Bill made it federally legal to buy and sell hemp and naturally occurring derivatives, as long as they contain under 0.3% Delta-9 THC, which means breast cancer patients can access CBD products in most states.

Additionally, breast cancer patients can buy cannabis products that contain THC  from dispensaries in all 24 states that have legalized recreational cannabis, along with 38 states that have legalized marijuana medically. It’s essential to note your state’s rules on cannabis. 

Side effects and contraindications

While most cancer patients surveyed in one study “believed that cannabis benefits people with cancer, and indeed 70–90% of patients who used cannabis to address issues with sleep, mood, pain, and other symptoms reported that cannabis use improved their symptoms.”

Another study suggested “since cannabis is commonly used in palliative care to treat chemotherapy-associated side effects, further research is required to investigate the potential interference of various cannabis formulations to ensure that the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents is not compromised.”

Interactions with conventional cancer treatments

Unfortunately, there still isn’t much solid research on whether cannabis negatively affects conventional cancer treatments. One study into the controversial link between cannabis and anticancer treatments believes that while “cannabis is touted to the public as a cancer cure, clinical trials need to clarify which combinations of chemotherapeutic agents with cannabinoids are useful for cancer patients.” 

Importance of consulting healthcare providers

If you’re interested in marijuana for breast cancer, keep up to date with research as it happens to make sure it interacts well with your conventional cancer treatments, and always consult your healthcare provider first. 

Future Research and Perspectives

The positive benefits of marijuana and breast cancer are gaining interest in the scientific community, which is leading to more ongoing studies on the subject. As highlighted in a systematic review of literature on the subject of the controversial link between cannabis and anticancer treatments, “To draw clear conclusions, we await the results of further prospective and randomized studies on this clinically relevant topic.” 

As more studies take place and more evidence is gathered, there is a potential for marijuana to be used more commonly in the treatment of breast cancer and related symptoms. 

Vessel Is Donating To Breast Cancer Research

At Vessel, we’re dedicated to creating premium products that enhance your life while contributing to a better, collective future. This October, in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re partnering withThe Breast Cancer Research Foundation and donating $1 from any purchase of our Rose Gold, Pink, and Copper products. To help raise awareness, we’ll also be giving away free Carbon Lites throughout October. When you choose Vessel, you’re not just investing in innovation and style - you’re helping to make a meaningful difference.

Conclusion

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer for women in the U.S., except for skin cancer. The good news is that, according to the CDC, “91% of female breast cancer patients had not died from their cancer five years later.”

Chemotherapy is the most common way of fighting breast cancer. However, the side effects can be debilitating. Marijuana may be one of the best ways to alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy and symptoms from breast cancer itself, like the reduction of anxiety and stress, improving appetite, and more.

Cannabinoids, found in marijuana, may even offer anticancer properties. Every patient is different, and personalized treatment plans are vital to help battle breast cancer. Be sure to keep up to date with the latest studies before discussing marijuana with your healthcare provider.