Getting Help Quitting Tobacco is Important for People Diagnosed with Cancer By David Spaulding, Sr. Program Manager for the Center for Tobacco Independence The word is out: using tobacco puts people at risk for all sorts of health problems, including stroke, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, and Coronary Heart Disease, not to mention many kinds of cancer including lung, stomach, cervical, pancreatic, colorectal, and more. For people who use tobacco, quitting is the single best thing they can do for their health. This may be easier said than done, and the fact is it is normal to try to quit a number of times before quitting for good. But, research has found that generally speaking, people do better with assistance. But what about people who have received a cancer diagnosis: is assistance available to these patients, and is it effective? The answer to both questions is yes. Free evidence-based treatment is available to folks wherever they live. Residents of Maine and New Hampshire can take advantage of the Maine QuitLink and QuitNowNH, respectively, and both programs provide free medications as well as free coaching from specially trained Tobacco Treatment Specialists. The National Cancer Institute in its Tobacco Control Monograph Series 23 states that not only does quitting tobacco use lead to improved health outcomes for patients with cancer, but it can improve their quality of life. Patients with advanced cancer who quit could experience improved circulation, lower blood pressure, improved appetite, and less fatigue. Additionally, quitting tobacco reduces risk for additional cancers and improves the effectiveness of cancer treatment. Still, feeling pressure to quit tobacco could be stressful, so deciding to quit should be an individual decision. Consider talking with your providers about the benefits of quitting. If you want to learn more about treatment services, your providers can refer you to the Maine QuitLink or QuitNowNH so you can talk with Tobacco Treatment Specialists and see if it is right for you. You can also call 1-800-QUITNOW to be connected to tobacco treatment. The Center for Tobacco Independence (CTI) has operated the evidence-based Maine QuitLink program on behalf of the State of Maine for over 20 years.
Thrive: Survivorship Digital Magazine, Vol. 2, No. 1
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