” If you have been diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), you may wonder if quitting smoking will make any difference to your prognosis. According to a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the answer is yes. The researchers found that patients who quit smoking within a year before or after their diagnosis had a lower risk of dying from any cause than those who continued to smoke.
The study involved 517 patients with NSCLC who were followed for an average of 9.6 years. The researchers categorized the patients into four groups based on their smoking status: never smokers, former smokers who quit more than a year before diagnosis, recent quitters who quit within a year before or after diagnosis, and current smokers. They then compared the survival outcomes of the different groups using statistical methods.
The results showed that recent quitters had a 28% lower risk of dying from any cause than current smokers, after adjusting for factors such as age, sex, tumor stage, and treatment. The survival benefit was similar for patients who quit before or after diagnosis. In contrast, former smokers who quit more than a year before diagnosis did not have a significant survival advantage over current smokers.
The researchers speculated that quitting smoking may improve the immune system’s ability to fight cancer and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. They also suggested that quitting smoking may enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatments and reduce the risk of treatment-related complications.
The study’s lead author, Dr. Mahdi Sheikh, said: “Our study shows that it is never too late to quit smoking. We found that even patients who quit shortly before or after being diagnosed with lung cancer can benefit from quitting. This should be emphasized to all patients with lung cancer, regardless of how long they have smoked.”
The study also highlights the importance of smoking cessation interventions for patients with lung cancer. The researchers noted that only 16% of current smokers in their study quit within a year of diagnosis, indicating a low rate of successful quitting. They recommended that health care providers offer tailored and comprehensive support to help patients quit smoking and improve their quality of life and survival.
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