5 Reasons Cancer Patients Should Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking anytime is beneficial to your health, and that fact is especially true for cancer patients.

"I think a lot of people who smoke and have cancer often think, 'Well, I already have cancer and there's nothing I can do about it,'" said Megan Piper, PhD, associate director of research at the UW Carbone Cancer Center's Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention. "We really want to encourage patients who have cancer to recognize that quitting smoking at any point can have significant benefits in terms of their treatment."

Here are five reasons why cancer patients should consider quitting smoking:

1. Quitting will reduce the chances that your cancer will recur.
2. Quitting will reduce your risk of developing any new cancer.
3. Quitting will improve your response to nearly all cancer treatments, including chemotherapy or radiation. Also, because smoking restricts blood vessels, recovery from surgery is generally easier for non-smokers.
4. Quitting will generally improve your quality of life. Smokers who have cancer and quit generally say they feel better over time.
5. Quitting will save you money at a time when your medical care is likely costing you more.