Most people know that cigarette smoking gives you a higher risk of developing cancer. But not many people know that after a cancer diagnosis, any cancer, one should quit smoking. It's rarely mentioned. But quitting smoking means better cancer treatment response and survival.
The medical community is so aware of the risks of continued cigarette smoking, that they call quitting smoking the "fourth pillar of cancer care" (The other 3 pillars of cancer care are: surgery, radiation, and chemo/immunotherapy.) Research finds that for many types of cancer, quitting smoking improves treatment response and also long-term survival.
Unfortunately, most cancer patients are not told this by their health professionals. Which may be why more than half of persons getting a cancer diagnosis continue smoking.
But, continuing smoking increases the risk of death twofold within 6 months vs those who quit smoking after the cancer diagnosis. The cancers that have been shown to be affected by smoking after diagnosis include a variety of cancers, including head and neck, lung, colorectal, and bladder cancer.
Excerpts from Medscape: The ‘Fourth Pillar of Cancer Care’ That’s Often Missed
For patients with cancer who smoke tobacco, quitting may be one of the most impactful interventions available. Quitting smoking after a cancer diagnosis has been linked to better treatment response and improved overall survival. ...continue reading "Research Shows Quitting Smoking After a Cancer Diagnosis Is Important"