Cancer-related chronic pain and Medical Cannabis
What is
Cancer-related chronic pain
Cancer-related chronic pain may be caused by tumours, surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or long-term changes in nerves and tissues. Pain can be constant or fluctuating and may have inflammatory, neuropathic, or mixed characteristics.
Treatment Options for
Cancer-related chronic pain
Management usually includes pain relief medication, adjuvant pain medicines, physiotherapy, nerve-targeted treatments, and specialist pain or palliative care input when required. Effective treatment often involves addressing both pain intensity and its effect on sleep, movement, and wellbeing.
Medical Cannabis and
Cancer-related chronic pain
Cannabinoids are sometimes explored as part of supportive cancer pain management, particularly where symptoms remain difficult to control or standard treatment causes problematic side effects. They may influence pain signalling, inflammation, sleep, and emotional distress.
Research & Evidence
Research into medical cannabis for cancer pain has shown mixed but continuing promise, especially for complex pain patterns involving neuropathic features or co-existing sleep and appetite issues. Clinical use should be individualised and closely monitored.
Explore Your Treatment Options
If cancer-related pain continues to affect your comfort or quality of life despite treatment, a specialist consultation may help review additional options. A clinician can consider whether cannabis-based medicines may be appropriate within your wider pain and oncology care plan.