CBD for Cancer Pain: Could a Cannabis Extract Help Improve Comfort and Quality of Life?

Living with advanced lung cancer brings more than just physical discomfort. Pain can become a constant companion. Anxiety is high, and sleep may feel elusive. Catching your breath can take extra effort. These symptoms - common in people with metastatic lung cancer - can slowly chip away at a person’s quality of life.

Medicinal standard cancer treatments are crucial. As science advances, they help control the disease and manage symptoms in an increasingly effective way. But the side effects of treatment can often provide an extra hit to everyday comfort. That’s why more and more people managing cancer are exploring natural, complementary approaches alongside conventional care to help with everything from nausea and vomiting to sleep and anxiety. One option gaining traction is medical cannabis (medical marijuana) - but not everybody is a fan of the psychoactive effects of THC. This is where the focus shifts to cannabidiol, better known as CBD.

Could the non-psychoactive cannabinoid help ease some of the daily challenges faced by cancer patients? A recent clinical trial from Brazil offers some insight.

A Groundbreaking Study about Cannabis and Cancer

The study, known as the IPElife trial, was a phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial - a rigorous and reliable format for medical research. It was carried out in Brazil and involved 40 adults with advanced or metastatic lung cancer. All participants had a confirmed diagnosis and were receiving care through a cancer treatment centre.

The goal of the study was simple: to find out whether a cannabis plant extract containing CBD could help relieve pain and improve certain aspects of quality of life. Participants were randomly divided into two equal groups:

• One group received the CBD extract.

• The other group received a placebo (a lookalike with no active ingredients).

The CBD product group began with a daily dose of 10 mg of CBD. Over time, this was slowly increased by 5 mg every few days, depending on how the participants felt, up to a maximum of 100 mg per day. The study ran for several weeks, with assessments carried out every 21 days.

How Was Progress with Cancer Pain Measured?

The researchers used tools that are widely accepted in cancer care studies:

• The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS): a 0–10 scale used by patients to describe how intense their pain feels.

• The EORTC QLQ-C30: a comprehensive questionnaire covering emotional, physical, and social aspects of quality of life.

• The QLQ-LC13: a lung cancer–specific module that looks at symptoms such as breathlessness and chest pain.

This approach allowed the researchers to track how pain and wellbeing were perceived by the patients over time - and whether any differences appeared between the CBD and placebo groups.

What the Results Suggested about Using Cannabis Products

By the end of the study, both groups had experienced some relief. Seeing a placebo effect in studies like this is not uncommon, but it's worth mentioning that the CBD group saw a significantly greater improvement in pain levels. On average, participants who took CBD went from a pain score of 7.2 down to 2.2, while the placebo group went from 7.4 to 3.7.

That means the CBD group reported roughly three times greater pain relief over the course of the study.

Two other findings stood out as well:

• Sleep: People taking CBD reported significantly less insomnia by the end of the trial.

• Breathing: Improvements in dyspnoea, or difficulty breathing, were also more pronounced in the CBD group.

While overall quality of life scores improved slightly for the CBD group, the differences across all tracked outcomes weren’t considered statistically significant. However, when specific symptoms like pain, breathlessness and sleep were looked at individually, the benefits became clearer.

Why These Findings Still Matter for People with Cancer

It’s important to understand what this kind of improvement, albeit small, could mean in real life. For someone struggling to sleep more than a few hours each night - or feeling short of breath even at rest - even small changes can add up to a more manageable, dignified daily experience.

CBD isn’t positioned here as a replacement for cancer treatment. It’s not intended to treat the disease itself. But in this trial, it appeared to offer natural support that made life a little easier for people living with a serious illness.

And for many patients, that’s the part of the goal: to live more comfortably, with fewer barriers to rest, activity, and connection.

Is It Safe to Take CBD Hemp Oil During Cancer Care?

One of the most common concerns people have about CBD is whether it’s safe - especially when someone is already taking other medications. In this particular study, the extract was well tolerated by participants, with no serious side effects reported.

The dose was increased slowly and adjusted individually, helping each person find what worked for them, but capped at 100 mg/day for safety reasons. This gradual, cautious approach is something that’s also recommended outside of clinical settings when starting CBD for the first time.

That said, CBD can interact with certain medications! Because it’s processed by the liver, it may affect how some drugs are broken down in the body. For that reason, it’s essential to consult a healthcare provider before adding CBD to any treatment plan, especially in the context of cancer.

Beyond Pain Relief: CBD and Quality of Life

The focus of this study was pain, but it also touched on broader aspects of wellbeing. Sleep and breathlessness are often overlooked, even though they have a huge impact on how someone feels day-to-day.

In the IPElife trial, CBD appeared to offer gentle support in these areas as well. That makes it part of a growing conversation about holistic cancer care - approaches that support both physical symptoms with conventional treatment and emotional resilience by alternative means.

When used alongside conventional therapies and always under the guidance of an oncologist, plant-based options like CBD may offer a layer of relief that improves how someone feels, copes, and connects with others.

Cancer Pain and Other Symptoms: What Comes Next?

This study adds to a small but growing body of research into CBD and cancer symptom management. While promising, it also highlights how much more we still need to learn.

Larger studies, diverse patient populations, and longer follow-up periods will all be important. Researchers will also want to explore different CBD formulations, including mixtures of THC and CBD, as well as delivery methods, to see what works best.

Still, for individuals and families navigating cancer, this trial offers a message of possibility: that natural options like CBD might play a supportive role in easing pain and improving daily comfort - especially when introduced thoughtfully and under medical guidance.

Final Thoughts on Cannabinoids in Cancer Care

Living with cancer isn’t just about fighting the disease. It’s also about finding ways to maintain strength, calm, and comfort through the process. That’s where plant-based approaches like CBD may help - not as a cure, but as a quiet companion in the journey.

Whether it’s reducing discomfort, helping with sleep, or making breathing feel a bit easier, CBD may offer something meaningful for those facing difficult days. If you're thinking about exploring it, speak with a doctor or specialist first. 

Curious to learn more? Reach out with any questions - our team is here to help!

Sources

[1] Sá G, Siqueira RLL, Souza LHS, Fonseca T, Melo PHSDE, Melo M, Medeiros KS. IPElife: Phase III, double-blind trial of cannabis sativa extract in pain management and quality of life in patients with metastatic lung cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2025 May 28;43(16_suppl):12061.