THE USE OF MEDICAL CANNABIS AS A TREATMENT FOR ONCOLOGY PATIENTS: A NARRATIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Introduction: Medical cannabis has been investigated as a complementary alternative for the management of cancer-related symptoms, especially pain, nausea, and sleep disturbances, with potential to improve the quality of life of oncology patients.To analyze the therapeutic effects and efficacy of medical cannabis in cancer treatment, focusing on its clinical benefits and limitations. Justification: The relevance of this topic lies in expanding therapeutic possibilities in oncology and in the need to strengthen scientific evidence regarding the use of medical cannabis in Brazil. Materials and methods: This study is a narrative literature review with a qualitative and descriptive approach, based on scientific articles published between 2017 and 2025 in health-related databases. Results/discussion: The findings indicate that medical cannabis provides benefits in the management of symptoms such as pain, nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and loss of appetite, with greater relevance in palliative care. However, the studies still present methodological limitations and adverse effects that require clinical caution. Final considerations: Medical cannabis appears to be a promising adjuvant therapy in oncology, especially for symptom control, although its clinical application still depends on more robust evidence and greater therapeutic standardization.