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Table 2 Reasons of use

From: Routes of administration, reasons for use, and approved indications of medical cannabis in oncology: a scoping review

Themes

Reasons for use by people with cancer

Frequency n (%)

Approved indications

Examples

Limiting the impacts of cancer and its side effects

Managing refractory nausea and vomiting

130/163 (79.8%)

√

•Reduce the frequency and severity of nausea

•Treat anticipatory nausea and vomiting

•Use with highly or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy

•Manage nausea associated with radiotherapy

•Limit delayed emesis

Complementary use to assist in pain management

120/163 (73.6%)

√

•Relieve cancer-associated pain

•Treat neuropathic pain

•Adjuvant for cancer pain not completely relieved by opioid therapy

•Use when refractory to opioids and conventional pain management techniques

•Enhance the anti-nociceptive effect of morphine

Improving appetite and food intake

88/163 (54%)

√

•Increase food enjoyment

•Weight gain/stabilization

•Limit anorexia and cachexia syndrome

•Improve taste and smell

Helping to manage emotions

59/163 (36.2%)

 

•Reduce stress

•Improve mood

•Treat anxiety

•Use to cope emotionally

•Allow relief of psychological symptoms

Promoting sleep and reducing insomnia

56/163 (34.4%)

 

•Improve sleep quality

•Facilitate sleep

•Reinforce sleep habit

•Reduce sleep disruptions

Easily perform activities of daily living and domestic activities

23/163 (14.1%)

 

•Boost energy and reduce fatigue

•Facilitate daytime activities

•Improve concentration and memory

•Increase activity tolerance

Alleviating musculoskeletal symptoms

10/163 (6.1%)

 

•Combat muscle tension

•Reduce spasticity

•Treat arthritis

•Decrease spasm and tremors

•Control trismus

Managing respiratory symptoms

3/163 (1.8%)

 

•Reduce dyspnea, shortness of breath and coughs

Staying connected to others

Recreational use

11/163 (6.7%)

 

•Enjoyment

Improving sexual function and libido

5/163 (3.1%)

 

•Increase frequency of sexual intercourses

Stimulating social interactions

3/163 (1.8%)

 

•Enhance social interactions

•Feel part of a group