Quitting Smoking Dramatically Lowers Cancer Death Risk, Study Reveals

New research published in JNCCN, Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, indicates that individuals diagnosed with cancer who cease smoking significantly reduce their risk of mortality within two years. The study, which analyzed over 13,000 cancer patients, found that those who quit smoking in the six months following their clinical visit experienced a substantially lower risk of death. This survival advantage was observed across all cancer types and disease stages, including advanced stages III and IV, where curative treatment options are often limited. Despite the clear health benefits, the data revealed that only about one in five cancer patients who smoke manage to quit within this critical six-month window.

The research was conducted in conjunction with the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Moonshot program and involved the implementation of an electronic health record-based tool called ELEVATE. This tool was designed by the Cancer Center Cessation Initiative (C3I) to streamline the process for clinicians to identify patients who smoke and to offer them support for quitting. The study commenced on June 1, 2018, coinciding with the system-wide adoption of ELEVATE in participating oncology clinics. The study encompassed all patients seen at these clinics, irrespective of their cancer type, stage, or how long ago they were diagnosed. Out of the 13,282 individuals included in the study, 13% reported being current smokers. Of this group, 22.1% successfully quit smoking within the subsequent six months. The findings showed that patients who continued to smoke faced a 97% higher risk of death within two years compared to their counterparts who quit.

The implications of this study highlight that lifestyle modifications, such as smoking cessation, can potentially extend survival more effectively than certain chemotherapy regimens. This research supports the notion of treating smoking cessation as a fundamental component of cancer care, on par with established pillars like surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Moving forward, integrating smoking cessation into the core treatment plan, rather than treating it as an optional add-on, is crucial for maximizing patient survival, enhancing quality of life, and ensuring truly comprehensive oncology care. It is important for patients to understand that it is never too late to quit, and no individual is ever considered too ill to attempt to stop smoking. The data strongly suggests a significant shift in how cancer care is approached, advocating for the routine inclusion of tobacco treatment to improve outcomes and prolong survival for all cancer patients, even those with advanced disease.

For individuals seeking to quit smoking, free resources are available to assist clinicians in guiding important conversations with patients about cessation. These resources provide a structured, evidence-based framework for delivering interventions consistently across all cancer types and stages. They translate research findings into actionable clinical steps, covering everything from assessing a patient’s readiness to quit to recommending effective medications and behavioral counseling. Aligning clinical practices with these guidelines not only standardizes care but also ensures that patients receive the most effective, science-backed treatments available. Additionally, patient-focused materials are available that offer accessible and easy-to-understand information to motivate and guide patients between clinic visits.

The study’s findings are particularly compelling, with patients who quit smoking after their cancer diagnosis exhibiting a significantly lower rate of all-cause mortality. While this is an observational study, and direct causality cannot be definitively inferred, the results, in the context of existing knowledge about smoking and cancer, suggest a profound impact of smoking cessation both before and after a cancer diagnosis.

Article by Ken Buckler, based upon information from JNCCN -Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network

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