TOP Journal’s Latest Research: Quitting Smoking Is Not Afraid *

It is a well-known fact that

smoking is harmful to health. Tobacco contains nicotine, tar and other harmful substances, like a group of “demons” hiding in the dark and waiting for opportunities, which quietly erode various organs and systems of the body without people’s awareness, causing many health problems such as respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and so on. For cancer patients, the harm of smoking is multiplied, it is like a cold “killer” hidden in the shadow, threatening the lives of patients at all times.

Recently, a landmark study published in Jama Oncology, a TOP journal in the field of oncology, sounded an alarm for the medical community about the importance of timely smoking cessation for cancer patients after diagnosis.

This significant study was carefully carried out by the professional medical team of Anderson Cancer Center in the United States. This is a team of experts with profound knowledge in the field of cancer treatment and research.

The study was a prospective cohort study, and the research team strictly screened the subjects. They selected cancer patients who received smoking cessation treatment at the MD Anderson Cancer Center Tobacco Research and Treatment Program between January 1, 2006 and March 3, 2022. The treatment programs that these patients receive are well thought out and scientifically designed, and are highly targeted. These include six to eight individualized counseling visits and 10-12 weeks of medication.

Of course, in order to ensure the accuracy and scientificity of the results, the research team also excluded some patients with special conditions. For example, the death of patients who died before the end of treatment may be influenced by a variety of complex factors that interfere with the analysis of the study data, and those who were diagnosed with cancer six months after the start of smoking cessation treatment, whose situation is inconsistent with the time of smoking cessation intervention after cancer diagnosis focused on in the study; As well as those who do not have complete staging information, because staging information is essential for assessing cancer status and predicting survival outcomes, the lack of such information will affect the reliability of research conclusions.

When the researchers analyzed the data of 4526 carefully screened cancer patients, they found that the survival rate of patients who quit smoking within 3, 6 and 9 months after cancer diagnosis was significantly improved, especially those who received tobacco treatment within 6 months after cancer diagnosis. Those who continued to smoke after diagnosis had a median survival of only 2.1 years. However, in sharp contrast, those who successfully quit smoking within six months of diagnosis had a median survival of 3.9 years, which nearly doubled, meaning that patients had more time to spend with their families and enjoy life. Even when smoking cessation therapy was initiated 6 months to 5 years after diagnosis, the survival of former smokers (6.0 years) was significantly better than that of non-former smokers (4.8 years), further emphasizing the positive impact of smoking cessation on the survival of cancer patients, regardless of when smoking cessation was initiated.

Based on these detailed and powerful data, this study has reached a crucial conclusion: smoking cessation treatment based on scientific evidence within 6 months after cancer diagnosis can maximize the survival benefits of patients. This conclusion sends us a clear and strong signal that smoking cessation is an important part of early clinical intervention for cancer patients and a key strategy to improve survival. Quitting smoking is not afraid of late, but early quit early health, every time to reduce the harm of tobacco to the body, may bring more hope for the lives of patients.

In short, my dear friends, quitting smoking is not only an important means to prevent cancer, but also a key strategy to improve the survival rate and quality of life for patients who have unfortunately suffered from cancer. In the difficult journey of fighting cancer, every small change can have a huge impact. With early intervention and ongoing support, whether from the family, the medical team, or society as a whole, patients can move toward a healthier, higher quality of life. I hope everyone can share this important information, so that more cancer patients can benefit, so that life can shine in hope!