Smokers not quitting after cancer diagnosis

A cancer diagnosis is not motivating smokers to quit, suggesting the need for a smoking cessation intervention, an Australian study has found.

A survey of 100 patients who were newly diagnosed with cancer and receiving radiotherapy, found that half of the smokers made no reduction in their smoking habits and only two out of the 14 quit altogether, according to the study (link) in the Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology (online Oct 18).

The researchers in Victoria and Queensland found one current smoker even increased their smoking after being diagnosed with melanoma while another breast cancer patient took-up the habit.

Any changes in smoking habits occurred within the first 30 days of diagnosis.

Around 79% of the smokers believed that the radiation oncologist should discuss smoking cessation with them and they thought that the first consultation would be the ideal time.

“…the diagnosis of cancer alone is not sufficient to obtain the benefits from smoking cessation by radiotherapy patients and some form of intervention may be appropriate,” the researchers say.

“The results relating to the receptiveness of the patients to intervention seem to support the concept of radiotherapy providing a ‘teachable moment’ for accepting smoking cessation and perhaps other lifestyle changes.”

They do suggest that the patients are screened for symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as smoking cessation as part of standard cancer care.