Does quitting smoking improve survival of cancer patients?

This article aimed to assess whether stopping tobacco use in cancer patients would lead to better survival rates. The authors concluded that patients who stopped tobacco use had longer survival and lower death rates than those who did not.

Cancer patients who smoke tobacco may experience worse outcomes than those who have quit smoking. There is evidence to suggest that smoking in cancer patients results in higher death rates and an increased risk of second primary cancers.The Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) offers tobacco assessment and cessation service (TACS) to cancer patients who smoke. There are, however, very few studies which show whether patients who make use of smoking cessation support systems have better survival rates than those who do not.

The authors combined data from lung cancer patients who had been referred to RPCI TACS and analyzed the quit rates of these patients, as well as survival rates for those who quit smoking and those who did not.

Of the 388 patients who were referred to RPCI TACS, 250 participated in at least one cessation support call (they could take part in up to eight). 102 of these patients reported that they did quit smoking. Patients were followed for an average of 15.5 months.

After follow-up, the patients who reported quitting smoking had an average 9 month longer survival then those who still smoked. Continued smoking was associated with a 79% increase in the risk of death.

The authors concluded that lung cancer patients who quit using tobacco had better overall survival than those that did not quit. They also emphasize the importance of cessation support.

The authors highlight several limitations with this article. They mention that the patients self-reported their tobacco use status, there was no biochemical confirmation of tobacco use. Second, they suggest that a greater number of patients and a longer and more thorough follow-up is required.

Lung cancer patients who continue to use tobacco should seek support to quit.