Abstract 740: Prevalence and cancer-specific patterns of cannabis use among US cancer survivors, 2016-2021
Authors: Cao Chao , Wang Ruixuan , Yang Lin , Paskett Electra D. , Shang Ce 
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Cannabis has therapeutic potentials for alleviating various cancer and treatment-related symptoms, such as refractory cancer pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea, and insomnia. However, less is known about the prevalence of cannabis use among US cancer survivors and its patterns by reason to use (any vs. medical), sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, state, and cancer type and history.

Method: This study is a cross-sectional analysis of a US nationally representative sample of cancer survivors aged ≥ 20 years from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey 2016-2021. Data on the frequency of current cannabis use (past month: any use vs. daily use), reasons to use (medical vs. non-medical), participant characteristics and state cannabis legality were self-reported by 96,594 cancer survivors diagnosed with non-skin cancers. Information on cancer survivorship, including cancer type, age at diagnosis, treatment, and cancer-related pain, was further collected among 12,052 survivors. Weighted prevalence (95% confidence interval [CI]) of cannabis use (any, daily, and medical) was estimated overall and by participant characteristics, states, and cancer history and types. Weighted multivariable (MV) logistic regressions were used to evaluate correlates of cannabis use.

Results and Conclusions: In 2016-2021, the prevalence of cannabis was 8.4% (95% CI, 7.9-9.0) for any use (daily use: 3.2% [95% CI, 2.9-3.5]) and 5.5% (95% CI, 5.0-5.9) for medical use among US cancer survivors. Compared to Non-Hispanic (NH) whites (7.9% [95% CI, 7.3-8.5]), NH blacks (10.4% [95% CI, 8.5-12.4]), Native Americans (16.2% [95% CI, 10.6-21.8]), and Hispanics (10.1% [95% CI, 7.7-12.4]) had a significantly higher prevalence of cannabis use. The prevalence of cannabis use was substantially higher among survivors living in states that legalized recreational use (11.2% [95% CI, 10.1-12.3]) than in states that only legalized medical use (6.7% [95% CI, 6.2-7.2]) and states where cannabis was illegal (4.9% [95% CI, 4.3-5.4]). Any cannabis use was most prevalent among cancer survivors in Nevada (21.6%), Maine (14.1%), and Alaska (12.5%). Survivors who were younger, male, not married, current smokers, drinkers, on low incomes, and of poor health status were more likely to report using cannabis than their counterparts. Among cannabis users, females, non-smokers, non-drinkers, and those with higher educational levels, higher BMI, and health conditions were more likely to use cannabis for medical reasons. By cancer type, survivors of testis (19.0%), brain (16.4%), and cervix (13.2%) cancers tended to have a higher prevalence of any cannabis use. Cancer survivors diagnosed at a younger age and reported cancer-related pain were more likely to use cannabis. Few survivors (0.4%) used cannabis during cancer treatment. Distinct cannabis use patterns were observed in US cancer survivors by lifestyle factors and cancer type.

Citation Format: Chao Cao, Ruixuan Wang, Lin Yang, Electra D. Paskett, Ce Shang. Prevalence and cancer-specific patterns of cannabis use among US cancer survivors, 2016-2021 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 740.