Cannabis Perceptions Among Breast Cancer Patients by History of Cannabis Use: Preliminary Findings from a Prospective Cohort Study

Veronica H. Lima Bornas, MPH, CPH
University of Florida, University of Miami

Co-authors: Veronica H. Lima¹, Veronica Z. Paley², Eli Avisar², Priscila Barreto², Julie Bradley¹, Dejana Braithwaite¹, Carmen Calfa2, Tracy Crane2, Richa Dawar², Milena Elimelakh², Zhigang Li¹, Erin Mobley¹, Lawerence Maximus Negret², Alejandra Perez², Isildinha M. Reis², Lisa Spiguel¹, Jose Suarez², Cristiane Takita², Juan Pablo de Rivero Vaccari², Frances Valdes², Jennifer J. Hu², Yan Wang^1
1University of Florida, ²University of Miami

Background: In recent years, medical cannabis (MC) use among patients with breast cancer has increased, particularly for managing treatment-related symptoms. Despite growing interest and use, patients often rely on personal experience to form opinions about cannabis. Therefore, perceptions of cannabis may vary among patients and may be shaped by prior exposure to cannabis use. However, limited research has investigated how history of previous cannabis use influences patients’ perceptions of its benefits and risks, which is important for decision-making on MC use in oncology care.

Objective: This study aims to explore differences in perceptions of cannabis use among breast cancer patients by history of cannabis use.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using baseline data from the Cannabis-Associated Relief Effects (CARE) Study, which is an ongoing NIH/NCI-funded prospective cohort study investigating the benefits and harms of MC in breast cancer patients during and after treatments. Participants were categorized based on self-reported lifetime cannabis use (ever vs never) at baseline. Survey measures assessed perceived benefits and risks of cannabis and related attitudes. Differences between non-users and users were assessed using Fisher’s exact test.

Results: A total of 92 participants were included (67% White, mean age 53, SD = 12, 63% reported never using cannabis). Cannabis users were more likely to report that cannabis has benefits compared to non-users (82% vs 47%, p = 0.001). Furthermore, they were more likely than non-users to report perceived benefits like “decreased use of other medications” (32% vs 2%, p < 0.001) and “enjoyment or recreation” (38% vs 0%, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference between groups in perceived risks of cannabis use. There was a significant difference in risk perception about “addiction to cannabis”, which was more commonly stated among non-users than ever users (31% vs 12%, p = 0.044).

Conclusions: These findings suggest that a history of cannabis use is associated with more favorable perceptions of benefits and lower perceived risk, suggesting that prior exposure may shape cannabis-related beliefs and expectations in this population and may be influential in their decision on whether to use MC during cancer treatments.