Greatest benefit seen for former smokers who quit >10 years before diagnosis<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter<\/b><\/p>\n
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TUESDAY, Feb. 14, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Smoking cessation for >10 years is significantly associated with reduced overall mortality and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)-specific mortality, according to a study published online Jan. 18 in Cancer<\/em>.<\/p>\n John J.W. Lee, M.D., from University of Toronto, and colleagues assessed whether smoking cessation and increased duration of abstinence were associated with improved overall and HNSCC-specific survival. The analysis included prospective data from 2,482 patients with HNSCC (2006 to 2019).<\/p>\n The researchers found that former smokers had a lower risk for overall mortality versus current smokers (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.71). Former smokers who quit >10 years before diagnosis (long-term abstinence) had the most improved overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.72) compared with current smokers. While former smokers had reduced HNSCC-specific mortality versus current smokers (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.71), there was no difference seen for noncancer mortality. Similarly, abstinence for >10 years was associated with lower HNSCC-specific death versus current smoking (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.64). <\/p>\n “These findings contribute to the importance and urgency of smoking-cessation interventions, with an emphasis to encourage quitting even if it feels too late,” the authors write.<\/p>\n Two authors disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.<\/p>\n