Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Patients May Still Want to Smoke, But New Report Shows Smoking Affects Quality of Sleep
In one study released earlier this month, researchers found that cancer pain may be increased in those who continued to smoke after their cancer diagnosis compared to patients who had never smoked. Smoking could also interfere with the efficacy of the treatments. For mesothelioma and lung cancer patients, already dealing with severe pain from the diseases, this could result in debilitating pain. Despite these findings and the general awareness that second-hand smoke could also cause cancer in their loved ones, 42% of lung cancer patients continue to smoke during their cancer treatment, according to the findings in a separate study conducted by researchers at the University of Buffalo in New York.
Pleural mesothelioma, a unique form of lung cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, is primarily caused by asbestos dust breathed into the lungs. While cigarette smoking alone has no known causative affect on mesothelioma incidence, according to the National Cancer Institute the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.
In the study published in the January issue of Journal of Addictions Nursing, researchers reported their findings in the rates of smoking and alcohol consumption in lung cancer patients and their relationship to anxiety and insomnia.
After evaluating 50 lung cancer patients that had received one cycle of chemotherapy, their duration and quality of sleep, anxiety, alcohol consumption, and cigarette use were evaluated. They found that 77% of the patients complained of poor sleep quality, and 25% had a Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale rating of “referable anxiety.” However, the researchers found that the smokers in the group tended to suffer from lower anxiety levels.
The authors of the study concluded that, “This sample illustrates the importance of assessing for alcohol use, current smoking and sleep disturbances in these medically compromised individuals.”
According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), smoking may reduce the effectiveness of cancer treatment. Patients who continue to smoke and undergo surgery may have an increased risk of heart and lung complications, including increased problems from general anesthesia. Smoking is also known to impede wound healing and may increase the risk of wound infection. ASCO reports that “stopping smoking, even shortly before surgery, has been found to reduce complications.”
Virtually all reports referencing smoking and the effect on lung cancer and/or mesothelioma treatments indicate that it is never too late to stop smoking when looking to improve one’s health and quality of life.
