
Why many don’t quit smoking despite cancer
A substantial number of lung and colorectal cancer patients continue to smoke after being diagnosed, a new study has revealed.
When a patient receives a cancer diagnosis, the main focus is to treat the disease. But stopping smoking after a cancer diagnosis is also important because continuing to smoke can negatively affect patients’ responses to treatments, their subsequent cancer risk, and, potentially, their survival.
A team led by Elyse R. Park, PhD, MPH, of the Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston, studied how many patients quit smoking around the time of a cancer diagnosis, and which smokers were most likely to quit.
The investigators determined smoking rates around the time of diagnosis and five months after diagnosis in 5,338 lung and colorectal cancer patients.
At diagnosis, 39 percent of lung cancer patients and 14 percent of colorectal cancer patients were smoking, five months later, 14 percent of lung cancer patients and 9 percent of colorectal cancer patients were still smoking.
These results indicate that a substantial minority of cancer patients continue to smoke after being diagnosed. Also, although lung cancer patients have higher rates of smoking at diagnosis and following diagnosis, colorectal cancer patients are less likely to quit smoking following diagnosis.
Factors and characteristics that predicted continued smoking differed by cancer type. Lung cancer patients who continued smoking tended to have Medicare or other public health insurance, have a lower body mass index, have low emotional support, not have received chemotherapy, not have had surgery, have had prior heart disease, and have smoked a high number of cigarettes per day at some point during their lives.
Colorectal cancer patients who continued to smoke tended to be male, have completed less education, be uninsured, not have had surgery, and have once smoked a high number of cigarettes per day.
“These findings can help cancer clinicians identify patients who are at risk for smoking and guide tobacco counseling treatment development for cancer patients,” said Dr. Park.
The study was published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.
_1614688707795_1614688716379.jpg)
Blood tests can offer early indicator of severe Covid-19? Here's what study says
_1614687750997_1614687759983.jpg)
High fat diets may over-activate destructive heart disease protein: Study

Painstaking study of 'Little Foot' fossil sheds light on human origins

Low cost, high efficiency mask design presented by Oxford study

Here's why using cannabis to treat migraine could up risk of rebound headaches

'Let's talk periods': Taapsee Pannu addresses 'the elephant in the room'

Esha Gupta's extreme stretch amazes everyone, Masaba's comment wins the day
- Esha Gupta recently shared a fitness post nailing an extreme stretch and left her audience speechless. We are in awe of the actor too.

Climate change is harming unborn babies in Brazil, says research
_1614602550461_1614602563985.jpg)
Monday motivation: Malaika Arora shares steps-benefits of Anulom Vilom Pranayama
- Yoga enthusiast Malaika Arora stresses on the importance of breathing for overall wellness, lays Monday motivation by taking fitness freaks through the steps and benefits of Anulom Vilom Pranayama or Alternate Nostril Breathing exercises | Watch

Jonah Hill shares body acceptance post, calls out daily for shaming him

Karisma Kapoor starts new month with fitness post, flaunts lean figure
- Karisma Kapoor recently took to Instagram to flaunt her toned midriff and inspired us to start the month on a fitter note and take care of our health.

Researchers shed light on why Covid-19 vaccine distribution methods fall short

Study: Too much coffee consumption can be detrimental for your heart health
_1614583452794_1614583467270.jpg)
Shilpa Shetty hails Yoga’s Paschimottanasana as perfect remedy for Monday blues
- Shilpa Shetty Kundra shows how to let the positive Monday energy wash down over you by giving ‘the spine, shoulders, and hamstrings that much-needed stretch’ with Yoga’s Forward Bend Pose or Paschimottanasana | Watch
