New research reveals quitting smoking at time of cancer diagnosis could increase the long term survival of cancer patients

1. Cancer Council
NSW
ABN: 51 116 463 846
153 Dowling Street
Woolloomooloo NSW 2011
PO Box 572 Kings Cross NSW 1340
T: 02 9334 1900
F: 02 8302 3500
E: feedback@nswcc.org.au
Cancer Council
Helpline 13 11 20
cancercouncil.com.au
Cancer Epidemiology Research Unit
Cancer patients who light up after treatment may lose out on long-term survival
Cancer Council is urging smokers who have recently been diagnosed with cancer to stub out the habit, as new research reveals quitting at time of diagnosis could increase their long term survival.
A new report released from Cancer Council NSW and published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology1 identified that there are a large number of people diagnosed with cancer who continue to smoke and may be reducing their overall long term survival.
The study estimated that if a smoker continues to smoke after their cancer diagnosis, they have a 37 per cent chance of being alive 8 years later. Whereas, if they quit smoking at diagnosis their chance of survival increases to 43 per cent, a 6 per cent gain. On average, after a cancer diagnosis, people who quit smoking gain about 1.8 years in expected survival time five years after a cancer diagnosis.
Lead author and Director of Cancer Research at Cancer Council NSW, Associate Professor Freddy Sitas, said the report looked at the benefits across all cancers and highlights the potential for significant survival gains for any person, with any cancer type, who gives up smoking.
“The results today indicate an opportunity to increase cancer survival rates. If we put the results from the research into context, overall 5 year cancer survival rates for Australians improve by about 1 per cent per year2. If all cancer patients who smoke quit smoking after their diagnoses, they could potentially benefit from a 6 per cent gain, that’s pretty significant,” he said.
“The research also reiterates the importance that Cancer Council and health professionals place on not smoking. If cancer patients continue to smoke after diagnosis, they may be reducing their overall survival whilst increasing the risk of
1Sitas F, Weber MF, Egger S, Yap S, Chiew M, O’Connell D. Smoking cessation after cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology, in press. http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/early/2014/09/29/JCO.2014.55.9666.full.pdf+html
2 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2012. Cancer survival and prevalence in Australia: period
estimates from 1982 to 2010. Cancer Series no. 69. Cat. no. CAN 65. Canberra: AIHW.

2. Cancer Council
NSW
ABN: 51 116 463 846
153 Dowling Street
Woolloomooloo NSW 2011
PO Box 572 Kings Cross NSW 1340
T: 02 9334 1900
F: 02 8302 3500
E: feedback@nswcc.org.au
Cancer Council
Helpline 13 11 20
cancercouncil.com.au
Cancer Epidemiology Research Unit
complications that smoking can cause during cancer treatment, as well as cancer recurrence and second primary tumours.”
The National Tobacco Strategy 2012-2018 identifies the need for patients to be asked about their smoking status and support to quit. Associate Professor Sitas believes that this report should act as a reminder to health professionals about the particular relevance for cancer patients.
“The findings from this research should act as a “conversation starter” for cancer patients, their carers, and their health professionals to help incorporate ongoing smoking cessation into their treatment and follow-up plans,” he said.
“The results should really drive home the importance of quitting for cancer patients, but inevitably the message is, don’t smoke; if you are a smoker quit now, or if you don’t smoke, don’t take up the habit.”
For information on how to quit smoking visit icanquit.com.au or speak with your health care professional or GP about smoking cessation advice
The research journal can be found at http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/early/2014/09/29/JCO.2014.55.9666.full.pdf+html