Abstract
Despite advances in radiology and chemotherapy, the 5-year survival for Lung Cancer (LC) remains at under 10%. Studies suggest that continued smoking after a diagnosis of LC independently worsens quality of life and shortens life expectancy but these are small, retrospective studies where smoking was self-reported and only at baseline.
In a UK multicentre trial (NCT01192256) we followed patients with newly diagnosed LC for up to 12 months. Self-reported smoking status was verified by serial exhaled carbon monoxide levels. All were offered smoking cessation and standard treatments according to best practice.
1 year mortality data for the first 822 patients was analysed. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates at 12 months are shown in the following table: A log rank test confirmed a significant difference in survival, X2 (4) = 12.641, P = 0.013 with quitting smoking at diagnosis resulting in improved 1 year survival.
| Smoking Status | Survival estimates(SE) |
| Quit within 3months following diagnosis | 61.5% (6.7%) |
| Never smoked | 59.6% (7.2%) |
| Quit more than 12months prior to diagnosis | 49.1% (2.7%) |
| Quit less than 12months prior to diagnosis | 47.6% (4.4%) |
| Continued to smoke | 41.0% (3.1%) |
Survival estimates at 12months
This is the first prospective study to show people who quit smoking within 3months of LC diagnosis have increased survival compared to those who continue to smoke. Further analysis regarding effects of smoking status on survival according to LC staging, histology as well as any effect on treatment complications and quality of life is on going. Our findings to date indicate that stopping smoking is associated with significantly better prognosis in patients newly diagnosed with LC.
- Copyright ©ERS 2015
