Impact of ceasing tobacco use post-lung cancer diagnosis: Advantages and further insights
New research underscores the significant benefits of quitting smoking for individuals diagnosed with lung cancer. The latest findings highlight improvements in life expectancy, quality of life, treatment effectiveness, and a reduced risk of cancer progression and comorbidities.
Life Expectancy and Mortality Risk
Quitting smoking after a lung cancer diagnosis can lead to a substantial reduction in mortality risk. Within ten years of quitting, the risk of dying from lung cancer is approximately half that of continuing smokers, contributing to an increased survival time even after diagnosis (1, 3).
Quality of Life
Smoking cessation enhances the quality of life for lung cancer patients by improving respiratory symptoms, reducing bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and slowing the decline in lung function (2).
Cancer Growth and Relapse Risk
While past smoking causes lasting cellular damage, continuing to smoke after diagnosis worsens prognosis and promotes cancer progression. Quitting can slow tumor growth and reduce the likelihood of relapse by improving overall pulmonary and systemic health (1, 4).
Comorbidities
Smoking cessation decreases the risk of additional smoking-related diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiovascular disease, which commonly complicate lung cancer and worsen outcomes (2).
Treatment Effectiveness
Stopping smoking improves the efficacy of lung cancer treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, by enhancing lung function and immune response, thus enabling better tolerance and response to therapy (3).
Encouraging Quitting after Diagnosis
Healthcare professionals recommend that those who smoke should be encouraged to quit after a lung cancer diagnosis. Quitting smoking can help prevent the progression of lung cancer and improve overall outcomes (5).
Making a Quit Plan
Talking with a healthcare professional can provide advice on how to quit smoking. A person can make a quit plan to help ensure success, such as setting a quit date, calculating overall savings, thinking about and recording the reasons for quitting, learning about and recording triggers, developing strategies to deal with cravings, and determining what strategies and tools can help with quitting successfully.
Additional Benefits
Some evidence suggests that quitting smoking can help slow the growth of cancer cells, and quitting smoking may improve the chances of avoiding a heart attack, making a person six times more likely to do so (6).
In summary, quitting smoking after a lung cancer diagnosis confers significant benefits across multiple important domains that impact survival and well-being. Healthcare systems widely recommend integrating smoking cessation support alongside lung cancer screening and treatment to maximize patient outcomes. For those who smoke, seeking help to quit can lead to improved health, increased life expectancy, and a better quality of life.
References:
- uihc.org - If I Quit Smoking, Am I Still at Risk for Lung Cancer?
- longevity-protocols.com - Interventions: Negative - Smoking Tobacco
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov - Smoking Cessation and Survival After Lung Cancer Diagnosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov - Smoking and Lung Cancer: A Review of the Evidence for the Individualized Management of Smoking Cessation in Lung Cancer Patients
- pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov - Smoking Cessation and Survival in Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- ncbi.nlm.nih.gov - Smoking Cessation and Reduction of Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Review of the Evidence for Clinical Practice Guidelines
- Quitting smoking not only reduces the risk of dying from lung cancer but also lowers the risk of developing other chronic diseases and medical conditions like heart disease and COPD (1, 6).
- As smoking cessation improves overall health and wellness, it can help in managing mental health, contributing to a better quality of life for individuals (1).
- Adopting a fitness and exercise routine, in addition to quitting smoking, further boosts the efficacy of cancer treatments and aids in recovery, especially for lung cancer patients (3, 5).
- By quitting smoking, a person not only enhances their life expectancy and reduces the risk of cancer growth and relapse but also lowers the risk of developing additional smoking-related cancers (1, 2, 4).
- Encouraging smoking cessation for those diagnosed with smoking-related cancers, such as lung cancer, is a critical component in improving patient outcomes and long-term health across various aspects of health and wellness (5).
