Cancer changes everything. From the minute you hear the diagnosis, your life starts to revolve around doctor visits, treatments, and trying to manage the symptoms that come with both the disease and its treatment.
Pain. Nausea. Appetite loss. Anxiety. Insomnia. It’s a lot to handle.
That’s why more cancer patients are exploring cannabis and cancer. And for good reason—it works for many people. It can make side effects more manageable, boost quality of life, and even offer hope in cases where other medications haven’t helped. For those battling cancer, cannabis and cancer relief often go hand-in-hand.
If you’re thinking about trying marijuana for cancer, or you’re simply curious about how it might help, this guide breaks it all down. We’ll cover what the research says, what kinds of cancer seem to respond to cannabis, and how it can help with symptoms like nausea, cancer pain, and more.
How Medical Marijuana Affects Different Types of Cancer
- Breast Cancer
Breast cancer can be both physically and emotionally overwhelming. Studies have found that certain compounds in cannabis may actually slow down the growth and spread of breast cancer cells. On top of that, marijuana can ease some of the harshest side effects of the disease and its treatment, like nausea from chemotherapy, nerve pain, and anxiety. Many patients say it helps them feel more like themselves again.
- Lung Cancer
While the research is still ongoing, many people with lung cancer often use cannabis to help with symptoms like chronic chest pain, appetite loss, and sleep problems. It won’t replace standard treatments, but it may make daily life a little more manageable.
- Colorectal Cancer
Early lab studies on colorectal cancer cells have shown that cannabis oil might help kill those cells. While that doesn’t mean it’s a cure, it’s a hopeful sign. Many patients with colorectal cancer use cannabis to deal with side effects like stomach cramping, bowel issues, and nausea that can make eating and daily life difficult.
- Skin Cancer
Skin cancer, including aggressive types like melanoma, is another area where cannabis has shown potential. Research has looked at CBD-rich creams and cannabis oils, which may help slow the growth of skin cancer cells or even cause them to die off. These products are often applied directly to the skin and may help with both symptoms and inflammation.
Cancer can completely change your life. The treatments themselves are often just as difficult as the disease. That’s why so many people are turning to medical marijuana—to get through those tough days, manage the side effects, and feel a little more in control of their bodies.
We still have a lot to learn, and research is ongoing. But the early signs are promising. In addition to helping manage symptoms, some studies suggest that cannabis and cannabinoids may even play a role in slowing tumor growth.
Still, this isn’t something to try on your own. If you’re thinking about using marijuana for your cancer or during treatment, talk with a healthcare provider who understands medical cannabis. It’s the safest and smartest way to explore your options.
Medical Marijuana and Chemotherapy: What the Research Says
For almost 30 years, researchers have looked at how cannabis can ease the side effects of chemotherapy. Medical marijuana has been shown to reduce pain, nausea, vomiting, and cachexia—a serious loss of weight and muscle.
One reason marijuana works so well is that many traditional meds—especially pills—just don’t cut it. When you’re sick to your stomach from chemo, swallowing and keeping down medications can be nearly impossible. Cannabis, whether inhaled or taken as an edible or tincture, offers another option.
A Better Alternative to Opioids
Opioids are commonly prescribed for chemo-related pain. But here’s the problem: they don’t work for everyone, and they come with serious side effects like drowsiness, constipation, and the risk of addiction.
In clinical trials comparing medical cannabis to opioids, many cancer patients reported better results with marijuana. It helped with pain and overall comfort—without making them feel like zombies.
Support for Mental Health
Cancer affects more than just the body. Chemotherapy can bring on depression, mood swings, and anxiety. Medications like phenothiazines are sometimes used to manage these symptoms, but they often cause strong sedation, mood changes, or even unwanted muscle movements.
Medical marijuana, on the other hand, has shown the opposite effect. Many patients report that cannabis helps them feel calmer, more emotionally balanced, and more in control of their mental state. It’s not just about pain—it’s about quality of life.
Can Medical Marijuana Help Treat Cancer?
Back in 2005, researchers began exploring whether cannabis could play a direct role in fighting cancer itself. And what they found was surprising—some compounds in cannabis were able to target and kill cancer cells in lab settings, without harming healthy cells nearby. That’s a huge deal because most cancer treatments damage both good and bad cells, which leads to those tough side effects.
While this research is still in early stages and mostly done in labs or on animals, it opens the door to new possibilities. Medical marijuana might not just be a way to feel better during treatment—it might also become part of the treatment plan in the future.
How Medical Marijuana Helps with Breast Cancer Symptoms
Easing Anxiety and Lifting Your Mood
It’s completely normal to feel scared, anxious, or even depressed after a diagnosis. Cannabis contains two major compounds that may help:
- CBD (cannabidiol), which is known for calming anxiety
- THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which can lift your mood and fight depression
Together, they can help people feel more at peace—and more like themselves—during treatment.
Helping You Sleep Better
Insomnia is common among cancer patients, especially when stress is high. A recent University of Michigan study found that taking cannabis before bed helped many patients fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. That’s because THC connects to brain receptors that influence sleep hormones like serotonin.
Reducing Nausea and Vomiting
Chemotherapy often brings brutal nausea. Medical marijuana is known as a powerful antiemetic—a drug that helps with nausea and vomiting. It works by calming the nerve signals in your brain that make you feel sick. It’s especially helpful when regular anti-nausea pills don’t work.
Some doctors even prescribe cannabis-based meds like Dronabinol or Nabilone for chemo-related nausea. Patients who use both cannabis and opioids often get better relief with fewer side effects.
Relieving Pain
Pain—whether it’s nerve pain, joint pain, or general discomfort—is one of the biggest complaints during cancer treatment. Medical marijuana works differently than opioids or NSAIDs. It affects the parts of your brain that control how you feel pain and can even slow down the growth of new nerve endings that send pain signals. That means less pain and better movement, which can make everyday life more manageable.
Can Marijuana Help People With Lung Cancer?
Cannabis Is Not a Cure
While some lab and animal studies show that cannabis compounds might have anti-cancer effects on lung cancer cells, there is still no strong clinical proof that marijuana can treat or cure lung cancer in humans. That’s why doctors still recommend sticking to your prescribed treatment plan and using cannabis only as a support tool—not a replacement.
Part of the reason we don’t have more solid answers? Marijuana is still considered illegal at the federal level, which has made it harder for researchers to study its full effects. We need more high-quality research before doctors can say for sure how cannabis affects lung cancer directly.
But It Can Help With Symptoms
Even though cannabis isn’t a cure, it can still offer real relief from the side effects of cancer and its treatment:
- Pain Relief: Many patients say cannabis helps with the chest and nerve pain that comes from tumors or treatments.
- Appetite Support: Cancer patients often struggle with eating, especially if they have nausea or experience cachexia (muscle wasting). Cannabis may help stimulate appetite and keep weight loss under control.
- Sleep Aid: Trouble sleeping is a common issue with cancer. Cannabis’s natural sedative effects can help promote better rest.
- Anxiety and Mood Support: Being diagnosed with cancer can take a toll on your mental health. Many people use cannabis to calm anxiety and feel more relaxed.
As always, it’s best to talk with your care team before starting medical marijuana, especially for a condition as serious as cancer. They can help you understand the risks, choose a safe delivery method (like oils or capsules instead of smoking), and make sure it won’t interfere with your other treatments.
Managing Lung Cancer Pain and Symptoms with Medical Marijuana
Relieving Lung Cancer Pain
Cannabis works by interacting with your body’s central nervous system and immune system. This interaction can reduce inflammation and help calm pain signals. Research shows that cannabis may help with pain caused by both the cancer itself and the nerve damage that can come from treatments like chemotherapy.
For patients who can’t tolerate opioids or aren’t getting enough relief from pain medications, cannabis is often a helpful option. It’s natural, has fewer side effects, and doesn’t carry the same risk of addiction.
Fighting Nausea and Vomiting
One of the worst parts of chemotherapy is constant nausea. It can make eating, drinking, or even sleeping difficult. Medical marijuana has been shown to work well when anti-nausea pills don’t.
A cannabis-based medication called Dronabinol (also known as Marinol or SYNDROS) is already approved by the FDA to treat chemo-related nausea and vomiting. If other treatments haven’t helped, this could be a game-changer.
Helping with Appetite and Weight Loss
Many lung cancer patients lose weight quickly due to poor appetite and a condition called cachexia, which causes serious muscle loss. Cannabis is known to boost appetite—sometimes referred to as “the munchies”—and it may help patients eat more and keep their strength up during treatment.
Improving Sleep
Trouble sleeping is another common issue for people with lung cancer. The anxiety, discomfort, and stress can all make rest nearly impossible. But cannabis naturally promotes sleepiness. It may also reduce anxiety, helping you unwind enough to get real, restorative sleep.
Can Medical Marijuana Help Treat Skin Cancer?
- One study on Kaposi’s sarcoma (a type of skin cancer) showed that cannabinoids like WIN-55,212-2 helped cause apoptosis, which means the cancer cells basically self-destructed.
- Another study found that CBD could also trigger cell death in skin cancer cells infected with a virus (human herpesvirus 8), which is important because these infected cells are often harder to treat.
- A more recent study published in Cells looked at a cannabis extract called PHEC-66, which was shown to stop melanoma cells (the most dangerous form of skin cancer) from growing and spreading. It also caused them to die off, making this extract a promising new therapy.
Why This Research Matters
Melanoma is a fast-spreading and often deadly form of skin cancer. Treatments can be harsh, and some patients don’t respond to them. That’s why the possibility of using cannabis-based therapies—especially ones that encourage cancer cells to die without harming healthy ones—is so promising.
More clinical trials are still needed, but this early research shows real hope for future cannabis-based treatments.
Get the Guidance You Need on Medical Marijuana and Cancer Pain
At Pause Pain & Wellness, we’re here to help. We’ve worked with cancer patients across Mississippi who are looking for safe, natural ways to manage tough symptoms like cancer pain, nausea, anxiety, and insomnia. Our team takes the time to understand your needs and walk you through how medical cannabis might fit into your care plan.
We’ll explain how to use it, what to expect, and which forms might work best for your specific situation—whether it’s cannabis for nausea, marijuana for cancer pain, or help sleeping through the night.
Visit one of our clinics in Oxford, Meridian, Flowood/Jackson, Tupelo, Olive Branch, Starkville, Hattiesburg, or Gulfport. Call us at 833-940-5060 to book a consultation and learn more about how marijuana and cancer care can go hand-in-hand.