[Smoking cessation therapy in thoracic oncology]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Addiction Medicine

Context:

• France faces over 73,000 annual tobacco-related deaths, with lung cancer (LC) accounting for a significant portion.
• Smoking remains a primary driver of LC, necessitating effective cessation strategies for prevention and patient management.
• Tobacco addiction presents complex physical, psychological, and behavioral dependencies, contributing to high relapse rates.

Purpose:

• To highlight the critical role of smoking cessation in reducing lung cancer incidence and mortality.
• To emphasize the benefits of smoking cessation across all stages of lung cancer management.
• To underscore the importance of addressing nicotine addiction through pharmacotherapy and behavioral interventions.

Summary:

• Smoking cessation is the most effective strategy to combat the lung cancer epidemic and improve survival rates.
• For localized cancers, quitting smoking reduces recurrence risk and the development of secondary malignancies.
• During the perioperative period, cessation minimizes complications and shortens hospital stays, while improving quality of life for patients at all stages.

Impact:

• Implementing comprehensive smoking cessation programs can significantly decrease lung cancer deaths and associated healthcare burdens.
• Integrating nicotine replacement therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy can improve patient adherence and long-term smoking abstinence.
• Enhanced patient support for smoking cessation can lead to better treatment outcomes and improved quality of life for lung cancer survivors.