National Cancer Survivor’s Day: How medical cannabis supports patients living with cancer

What is National Cancer Survivors’ Day? 

National Cancer Survivors' Day is an annual celebration that takes place on the first Sunday in June. This year, it falls on Sunday, 7th June.

First established by the National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation, the day honours anyone with a history of cancer, raising awareness of the ongoing challenges survivors face and inspiring hope for the future.

While the event started in the United States, National Cancer Survivor’s Day is now celebrated globally, with official events in at least 20 countries across five continents. That includes us, right here in the UK.

You don’t have to necessarily be a cancer survivor to celebrate, either. 

Whether you’re a caregiver, healthcare professional, family member, or friend, NCSD is a day for everyone. Anyone with a history of cancer, from the moment of diagnosis through the rest of their life, is included.

Cancer is more than just a diagnosis 

As many cancer survivors will understand already, cancer is so much more than just the diagnosis.

Nausea, poor appetite, pain, sleep problems, anxiety, fatigue and nerve symptoms can all build up as additional symptoms over time. And when several of these happen together, it can make living with the condition feel harder to cope with.

According to the National Cancer Institute, fatigue can begin before, during or after treatment, and is estimated to affect more than 80% of patients with cancer.

Living with the pains associated with cancer can have a major impact on day-to-day function and quality of life as well. That’s why having a supportive symptom management plan in place is so important at every stage of the treatment journey.

Can medical cannabis alleviate cancer-related symptoms?

For some patients, a medical cannabis prescription may form as part of a wider treatment plan.

While medical cannabis is not a treatment for cancer itself, it may help eligible patients manage cancer-related symptoms, such as pain, poor sleep, nausea or anxiety.

But let's be clear: medical cannabis should not be seen or advertised as a replacement for chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery or any other treatment that’s been recommended by your oncology team. 

Cancer Research UK also makes it very clear that there's no reliable evidence that cannabis can treat cancer itself. 

Where it may have a role is in providing supportive care to patients, particularly in cases where conventional treatments either haven't worked well enough or have led to debilitating side effects.

What is medical cannabis? 

Medical cannabis refers to prescribed cannabis-based medicinal products. In simple terms, it’s a regulated form of medication offered as a treatment for a wide range of conditions, and has been legal in the UK since November 2018.

Medical cannabis contains active compounds called cannabinoids, with the two best known being THC and CBD.

• THC is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis. It interacts with receptors in the brain and nervous system, which is why it's often used to help with symptoms like pain, nausea and poor sleep.

• CBD is non-intoxicating, meaning it won't make you feel “high”. It works more indirectly on the body's endocannabinoid system and is typically associated with calming, balancing effects.

But not all cannabis products are created equal.

As Macmillan points out, unregulated cannabis products may not actually contain what they claim they do, making it difficult to judge their safety, strength or quality.

With a medical cannabis prescription, you know exactly what you're taking and at what dose, offering targeted symptom relief while under a specialist’s guidance and care

Medical cannabis and cancer-related symptoms: what does the evidence say?

Medical cannabis is often associated with cancer, with many patients taking it to help relieve various symptoms and make day-to-day life easier to manage.

But what’s the clinical evidence behind it? And which symptoms have medical cannabis been shown to be effective at alleviating through medical research? 

Let's take a look at each one in turn. 

Nausea and vomiting

This is where the evidence is strongest.

Most patients receiving chemotherapy are given anti-sickness medicines. These work well for many people, but some continue to feel sick despite standard treatment.

In these cases, cannabinoids may be considered as an add-on option. 

In fact, medical cannabis can even be prescribed on the NHS for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting that hasn't responded to conventional anti-sickness treatment.

For context, this is one of only three conditions you may potentially receive an NHS medical cannabis prescription for.

Appetite loss

Loss of appetite is common during cancer treatment, but it's rarely caused by one thing alone.

Nausea, altered taste, mouth soreness, pain and low mood can all make the process of eating, and desire to eat, more difficult.

Many cancer patients report that cannabis helps them feel more interested in food. 

However, the evidence here appears less consistent, so if you’re struggling with appetite-related issues, it's worth exploring why your appetite has changed first.

Pain

When our stress levels rise, we will often feel more tense, experience worse sleep and feel less resilient overall. That can then make pain feel more intrusive and more difficult to cope with.

While it may not be appropriate for everyone, the improved pain control that medical cannabis can offer has been shown to lead to better sleep and make everyday life feel more manageable.

This has been seen in research, with an analysis from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry showing improvements in pain, sleep quality and overall quality of life over six months in patients prescribed medical cannabis for cancer pain.

Neuropathy and fatigue

Chemotherapy can sometimes cause tingling, numbness or burning pain in the hands and feet, known as chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

There's recently been clinical interest in whether cannabinoids may help these nerve-related symptoms but, for now, the evidence remains limited.

The same is true of fatigue. Medical cannabis shouldn't be seen as a reliable treatment here, and according to the NHS, it may make tiredness worse in some patients.

Sleep

While on the topic of feeling tired, cancer can also impact your sleep in a bit of a catch-22 relationship.

Lying in bed with racing thoughts and physical discomfort can make it harder to fall asleep or stay asleep. Meanwhile, getting a bad night's sleep can make everything feel more overwhelming the next day, creating even more stress and fatigue.

Sleep disorders can also make pain, mood and concentration worse, so this is often one of the first areas worth addressing for cancer patients.

Fortunately, medical cannabis has been shown to help, with researchers finding that medical cannabis and cannabinoids may improve impaired sleep among people living with chronic pain. 

Here’s a quick overview of all the key cancer-related symptoms and the impact that taking medical cannabis may have: 

 

Does medical cannabis cause side effects or interact with other medicines?

As with any other form of prescription medicine, medical cannabis can cause side effects, including dizziness and drowsiness.

It can also interact with other medications, including some cancer treatments, blood thinners, opioids and sedatives.

That's why it's so important to tell your oncology team if you're considering adding it to your treatment plan. 

How do patients feel about medical cannabis for cancer care? 

Back in November 2025, Releaf ran the largest survey of active UK medical cannabis patients ever conducted, with 24 respondents prescribed treatment for cancer-related symptoms.

The results of this speak for themselves:

• 100% reported an improved quality of life

• 83.3% rated their treatment as extremely, very or moderately effective

• 83.3% experienced no side effects at all

• 95.8% would recommend medical cannabis to others with a qualifying condition

While it may only have been a small sample, it offers a genuinely positive snapshot of how medical cannabis is already supporting patients living with cancer in the UK.

At Releaf, we often hear from cancer patients who describe exactly that kind of wider impact. 

When symptoms become more manageable, people can feel more settled, more rested and better able to navigate the demands of everyday life alongside their cancer care.

Supportive cancer care should continue beyond treatment

National Cancer Survivor's Day is a reminder that surviving cancer isn't just about getting through cancer treatment. It's about ensuring a good quality of life afterwards as well.

Medical cannabis may have a role here, offering supportive cancer care to eligible patients looking to manage the debilitating symptoms so commonly associated with cancer treatments. 

While the evidence for certain symptoms may still be developing, the patient’s voice is clear: when symptoms become easier to manage, life after cancer becomes easier to live.

Find out whether you’re eligible for medical cannabis by using our free medical cannabis eligibility checker. It’s free, takes under 30 seconds, and offers a clear first step towards understanding your options.

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