Pharmacy Daily | It’s never too late to quit

QUITTING smoking after a cancer diagnosis can give people months or even years longer to live, depending on the type of cancer, according to international research led by the University of NSW.

The team looked at data on over 30,000 cancer patients with a tracked smoking history.

For cancers with a better prognosis, like prostate and breast cancer, quitting smoking provided a median gain of 2.1 years.

Cancers with a poorer prognosis, like lung and brain cancer, delivered a median gain of three months.

The figure averaged across all cancers was 11 months.

"The earlier you stop smoking, the more beneficial it is, but it can still make a difference after a cancer diagnosis," said senior author Associate Professor Freddy Sitas, from UNSW's International Centre for Future Health Systems.

He added that improvements in cancer survival rates since the data was collected meant the estimated benefits of quitting smoking post cancer diagnosis were likely on the conservative side - as survival rates continue to rise, so will the benefits of quitting smoking post diagnosis.

In addition to giving people with cancer more time, quitting smoking can improve their quality of life and reduce toxicity from radiotherapy.

"Smoking during cancer treatment causes significant side effects so it is important for oncology staff to take smoking seriously and encourage their patients to quit," A/Prof Sitas said.

"The minute you stop smoking, your response to radiotherapy is better, your response to chemotherapy is better - there are less toxic side effects."

"The last thing you want to do while you're being treated is smoke," he said.

However, he acknowledged that quitting smoking is of little priority or benefit for some, such as those with late-stage cancer.

"Some people might question if it is worth quitting after a cancer diagnosis, but it does matter," said first author, Dr Nina El-Haddad.

"Smoking impacts the effectiveness of the treatment people receive, the risk of their cancer reoccurring and their risk of getting a secondary cancer as well.

"If you quit, you have a better chance of survival, so it's crucial."

The researchers hope the numbers provide a clear guide to cancer patients about the benefits of quitting, but also prompt health practitioners to initiate more conversations on smoking cessation programs and benefits.

Read the full paper HERE. KB