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MEDTECH Could better symptom management strategies be the missing link in assisting cancer survivors to quit smoking?
In a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal CANCER, researchers from Wake Forest University School of Medicine uncover the impact of smoking and vaping on the symptom burden in adult cancer survivors, also revealing surprising insights about their desire to quit these habits.
Key Points:
- Current smoking and vaping are linked with a higher burden of symptoms among adult cancer survivors, as per a study published in CANCER by Wiley online.
- Smoking after a cancer diagnosis decreases survival rates, raises the chances of additional cancers, and reduces the effectiveness of cancer therapies.
- The research, conducted by Sarah Price, PhD, involved an analysis of data from 1,409 adult cancer survivors partaking in Wave 5 of the US FDA Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study.
- 14% of cancer survivors were found to be current smokers, while 3% were current vapers, with both groups reporting increased fatigue, pain, emotional problems, and diminished quality of life (only for smokers).
Additional Points:
- The desire to quit smoking, likelihood of quitting, or past attempts to quit showed no connection with the patients’ symptom burden.
- Researchers argue against the common assumption that patients with higher symptom burdens are resistant to tobacco cessation treatment.
Conclusion:
- Despite the detrimental effects of smoking and vaping on symptom burden in cancer survivors, these factors do not influence their inclination to quit, contradicting popular beliefs and potentially informing future symptom management and smoking cessation strategies.
Further Reading
- Could Taking Fish Oil Supplements Help Lower Cancer Risk?
- Nurse Practitioner Found Liable for Failing to Diagnose Breast Cancer
- A Surgeon to Patients: Stop Believing These 5 Breast Cancer Surgery Myths
“Our finding that greater symptom burden was not associated with reduced interest in quitting smoking directly contradicts common assumptions. If smoking cessation is viewed as part of cancer symptom management, it may be more acceptable to both patients and the clinicians who treat them.”
Sarah Price, PhD, lead author of the study
