Tobacco Use and Cancer

Most people are aware that smoking and other forms of tobacco use increases a person’s risk for a number of health problems including cancer. Anyone who has ever smoked knows how difficult it is to quit, but many people may not know that it is never too late to obtain the benefits of quitting – even after being diagnosed with cancer.

In fact, continued tobacco use after a cancer diagnosis has a negative impact on cancer treatment, recovering from treatment, and it increases the chances of the cancer recurring. However, cancer patients can obtain many health benefits by quitting tobacco. Some reports are now indicating that quitting tobacco can be as beneficial to surviving cancer as some cutting-edge cancer treatments.

Talk to your healthcare provider to learn more about quitting or contact a Nicotine Addictions Specialist to help you quit and stay quit.

• Quitting Tobacco After a Cancer Diagnosis: Fact Sheet
• Benefits of Quitting After a Cancer Diagnosis
• Withdrawal Symptoms
• Quitting and Medications
• E-Cigarettes
• Cannabis
• Getting Support

Continued tobacco use during cancer treatment can have a negative impact on treatment-related outcomes. Patients who are able to quit smoking and other forms of tobacco after a cancer diagnosis experience many benefits including: fewer treatment and disease-related complications, improved effectiveness of cancer treatments, improved survival and reduced risk of disease recurrence and development of secondary cancers.

• Fax Referral Form
• Stop Smoking Programs in Nova Scotia
• Tools and Resources