Research Confirms It's 'Never Too Late' to Gain Survival Benefits from Quitting Smoking, Even with Advanced Cancer

Recent research published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network highlights the significant impact of smoking cessation on cancer patient survival—regardless of the cancer stage. The study, titled "Smoking Cessation and Mortality Risk in Cancer Survivorship: Real-World Data From a National Cancer Institute–Designated Cancer Center," demonstrates that individuals with cancer who quit smoking within the first six months after diagnosis experience markedly lower mortality risk within two years compared to those who continue smoking.

The extensive study tracked over 13,000 cancer patients, revealing that about 13% identified as current smokers at the start. Among these, 22.1% successfully quit during the integrated treatment window. Importantly, the data showed that continued smoking increased the risk of death within two years by 97%.

This research underscores the importance of incorporating smoking cessation programs into comprehensive cancer care. Utilizing an electronic health record (EHR)-based tool called ELEVATE, implemented as part of the Cancer Center Cessation Initiative (C3I), clinicians actively assessed smoking behaviors and supported patients in quitting. The study encompassed all patients seen in participating oncology clinics since June 1, 2018, regardless of cancer type, stage, or diagnosis timing.

Lead author Dr. Steven Tohmasi from the Siteman Cancer Center emphasized that quitting smoking can extend survival beyond what some chemotherapies can achieve. "Smoking cessation should be regarded as the fourth pillar of cancer treatment—alongside surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy or immunotherapy," he stated. The findings show that even in advanced stages (III and IV), quitting smoking can substantially improve outcomes.

Senior author Dr. Li-Shiun Chen added that it is never too late to quit, and patients should never feel too sick to stop. The study's findings advocate for routine tobacco treatment in oncology settings, reinforcing the notion that cessation efforts are a crucial component of cancer management. NCCN provides free resources and guidelines to facilitate conversations between healthcare providers and patients about quitting smoking, such as the NCCN Guidelines for Smoking Cessation and accessible materials for patients.

Experts like Dr. James M. Davis from Duke Cancer Institute highlighted the profound effect observed—patients who quit after diagnosis had approximately half the mortality rate of continued smokers. Although causality cannot be definitively established in this observational study, the evidence strongly supports smoking cessation as a life-extending intervention for cancer patients.

In conclusion, this research advocates for the integration of tobacco treatment as a standard part of oncology care. It demonstrates that quitting smoking offers vital survival benefits, even in late-stage cancer, reinforcing the message that it is always beneficial to stop smoking at any point during cancer treatment or survivorship.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-late-survival-benefits-stage-cancer.html