Cannabis Topicals and Breast Cancer Treatment Pain: What the Research Is Starting to Show

 


One of the hardest parts of breast cancer treatment doesn’t always get the same attention as the diagnosis itself.

For many patients prescribed aromatase inhibitors as part of hormone therapy, the challenge isn’t just cancer—it’s living with the side effects that follow. Joint pain, stiffness, and reduced hand function are common enough to have a clinical name: aromatase inhibitor–induced musculoskeletal symptoms (AIMSS).

For some patients, that pain becomes more than uncomfortable. It becomes disruptive.

A small clinical trial recently summarized by NORML explored whether cannabis-based topical balms could help manage this specific type of treatment-related pain. Not as a cure. Not as a replacement for medical care. But as a localized option for symptom relief.

What the Clinical Trial Examined

The study, published in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, focused on women experiencing AIMSS related to breast cancer hormone therapy.

Researchers asked participants to:

  • Apply a cannabis-infused topical balm

  • Use it three times daily on hands, wrists, and fingers

  • Continue use for at least two weeks

  • Use either CBD-dominant or THC-dominant formulations

Pain levels and physical function were tracked throughout the study period.

It’s important to note that this was a small, short-term, open-label study, meaning there was no placebo group and participants knew what they were using. That context matters when interpreting the results.

Key Findings on Pain and Function

Even with those limitations, the outcomes were notable:

  • 86% of participants reported improvement in baseline pain and physical functioning

  • THC-dominant cannabis topicals were associated with greater reported pain relief than CBD-dominant versions

  • The topical applications were well tolerated, with no serious adverse effects reported

However, the most significant finding wasn’t just about pain reduction.

Safety Findings: No Systemic THC or Hormone Interference

Researchers found no detectable systemic THC absorption and no changes in estradiol levels among participants.

In practical terms, that means:

  • No psychoactive effects were observed

  • The topical cannabis use did not interfere with hormone therapy

For breast cancer patients concerned about intoxication or treatment interactions, this distinction is critical. It suggests that topical cannabis application may remain localized, addressing pain where it’s applied without affecting the rest of the body.

What This Does—and Does Not—Mean

This research does not suggest that cannabis:

  • Treats cancer

  • Alters disease progression

  • Replaces conventional medical care

What it suggests is narrower, and more precise:

A cannabis-based topical balm may help manage a specific treatment-related side effect—joint and musculoskeletal pain—without disrupting cancer hormone therapy.

That distinction matters, especially in conversations where cannabis is often discussed too broadly.

Study Limitations and Why They Matter

This study should be viewed as preliminary, not definitive.

Key limitations include:

  • A small sample size

  • No placebo-controlled comparison

  • Short study duration

  • Reliance on self-reported outcomes

The researchers themselves emphasize the need for larger, placebo-controlled clinical trials with longer follow-up periods to confirm effectiveness, refine dosing and formulations, and identify which patients may benefit most.

Why This Research Is Worth Paying Attention To

This study doesn’t provide final answers—but it adds an important data point.

It contributes to a growing body of research exploring whether localized, non-systemic cannabis topicals could play a role in supportive care for breast cancer patients, particularly those dealing with the long-term side effects of aromatase inhibitor therapy.

For patients navigating AIMSS, clinicians seeking additional tools, and policymakers shaping cannabis regulation, the takeaway is the same: this is an area that deserves careful study—without hype and without dismissal.

At Scunk Gardens, we focus on conversations that are grounded, honest, and centered on real outcomes. This research doesn’t tell us everything—but it tells us enough to keep asking better questions.

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