Smoking Behaviours of Current Cancer Patients in Canada

Liu, J.; Chadder, J.; Fung, S.; Lockwood, G.; Rahal, R.; Halligan, M.; Mowat, D.; Bryant, H.

doi:10.3747/co.23.3180

Open AccessArticle

Smoking Behaviours of Current Cancer Patients in Canada

by

J. Liu

^1,*,

J. Chadder

¹,

S. Fung

¹,

G. Lockwood

¹,

R. Rahal

¹,

M. Halligan

¹,

D. Mowat

¹ and

H. Bryant

^1,2

¹

Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, Toronto, ON M5J 2P1, Canada

²

Departments of Community Health Sciences and of Oncology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Curr. Oncol. 2016, 23(3), 201-203; https://doi.org/10.3747/co.23.3180

Submission received: 11 March 2016 / Revised: 7 April 2016 / Accepted: 10 May 2016 / Published: 1 June 2016

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Abstract

Evidence shows that continued smoking by cancer patients leads to adverse treatment outcomes and affects survival. Smoking diminishes treatment effectiveness, exacerbates side effects, and increases the risk of developing additional complications. Patients who continue to smoke also have a higher risk of developing a second primary cancer or experiencing a cancer recurrence, both of which ultimately contribute to poorer quality of life and poorer survival. Here, we present a snapshot of smoking behaviours of current cancer patients compared with the non-cancer patient population in Canada. Minimal differences in smoking behaviours were noted between current cancer patients and the rest of the population. Based on 2011–2014 data from the Canadian Community Health Survey, 1 in 5 current cancer patients (20.1%) reported daily or occasional smoking. That estimate is comparable to findings in the surveyed non-cancer patient population, of whom 19.3% reported smoking daily or occasionally. Slightly more male cancer patients than female cancer patients identified as current smokers. A similar distribution was observed in the non-cancer patient population. There is an urgent need across Canada to better support cancer patients in quitting smoking. As a result, the quality of patient care will improve, as will cancer treatment and survival outcomes, and quality of life for these patients.

Keywords: smoking; smoking behaviours; cancer patients; adverse outcomes; Canadian Community Health Survey

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MDPI and ACS Style

Liu, J.; Chadder, J.; Fung, S.; Lockwood, G.; Rahal, R.; Halligan, M.; Mowat, D.; Bryant, H. Smoking Behaviours of Current Cancer Patients in Canada. Curr. Oncol. 2016, 23, 201-203. https://doi.org/10.3747/co.23.3180

AMA Style

Liu J, Chadder J, Fung S, Lockwood G, Rahal R, Halligan M, Mowat D, Bryant H. Smoking Behaviours of Current Cancer Patients in Canada. Current Oncology. 2016; 23(3):201-203. https://doi.org/10.3747/co.23.3180

Chicago/Turabian Style

Liu, J., J. Chadder, S. Fung, G. Lockwood, R. Rahal, M. Halligan, D. Mowat, and H. Bryant. 2016. "Smoking Behaviours of Current Cancer Patients in Canada" Current Oncology 23, no. 3: 201-203. https://doi.org/10.3747/co.23.3180

APA Style

Liu, J., Chadder, J., Fung, S., Lockwood, G., Rahal, R., Halligan, M., Mowat, D., & Bryant, H. (2016). Smoking Behaviours of Current Cancer Patients in Canada. Current Oncology, 23(3), 201-203. https://doi.org/10.3747/co.23.3180

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Smoking Behaviours of Current Cancer Patients in Canada

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