Quitting Smoking Benefits: Survival Rates at Any Age
Here’s a breakdown of the key information from the provided text:
Main Finding:
* Quitting smoking after a cancer diagnosis considerably improves survival rates. Patients who quit smoking had a much lower risk of dying within 2 years compared to those who continued smoking (97% higher risk of death for those who continued). This benefit was seen across all cancer types and stages.
Study Details:
* Researchers: Tohmasi et al.
* Published in: JNCCN-Journal of the National Extensive Cancer Network
* Participants: Over 13,000 individuals with cancer.
* Timeline: Followed patients seen in clinic, tracking smoking cessation within the first 6 months. Study began June 1, 2018.
* key Data:
* 13% of patients were current smokers.
* 22.1% of current smokers quit within 6 months.
* Continued smoking was associated with a 1.97 times higher risk of all-cause mortality.
* The benefit of quitting was seen even in advanced-stage (III or IV) cancer.
Initiative & Tool:
* C3I (Cancer Center Cessation Initiative): Implemented an EHR-based tool called ELEVATE to help doctors assess smoking status and assist with quitting. This was part of the NCI Cancer Moonshot program.
Expert Quotes:
* Steven Tohmasi, MD, MPHS: Smoking cessation should be considered the “fourth pillar of cancer care” (alongside surgery, radiation, and chemo/immunotherapy).
* Li-Seen Chen, MD, ScD: It’s “never to late” to quit smoking, even after a cancer diagnosis.
In essence, the study strongly advocates for integrating smoking cessation as a core component of cancer treatment plans.