Adolescent Substance Abuse Articles
Smoking during cancer treatment may hurt recovery process
By Staff Writer
The results of a recent cigarette study indicate that smoking cigarettes may have detrimental effects on the health of an individual who is receiving radiation treatment for head and neck cancer.
In the study, researchers reviewed the medical records of 101 patients with newly diagnosed cases of head and neck cancer. The records of patients that smoked cigarettes during radiation therapy were compared to those of individuals who had quit before starting their treatment.
Of the patients who had quit smoking, 55 percent were still alive five years later, compared to 25 percent in the group that continued with their habit. In addition, the researchers found that 53 smokers and 40 nonsmokers experienced a recurrence of the disease. Scar tissue, hoarseness and difficulties eating were also more prevalent in smokers.
This research was the result of an observational study, so the researchers stress that they could not identify a cause-effect relationship between smoking during treatment and a patient's death.
What the researchers are sure of is that a cancer diagnosis can take an emotional toll on a patient. They might be reluctant to pursue substance abuse help for their addiction, which in turn may reduce their chances of recovery.
