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 |