E- CIGARETTES UNHELPFUL IN SMOKING CESSATION AMONG CANCER PATIENTS
In a new study of
cancer patients who smoke, those using e-cigarettes (in addition to traditional
cigarettes) were more nicotine dependent and equally or less likely to have
quit smoking traditional cigarettes than non-users. Published early online in Cancer, a
peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings raise doubts
about the potential benefits of e-cigarettes for helping cancer patients give
up smoking
Because of the risks
of persistent smoking, all cancer patients who smoke should be advised to quit.
But the rising use of e-cigarettes has raised many questions among patients and
their health care providers including whether e-cigarette use helps or hinders
quitting efforts. Even regulators are struggling with the complexities
associated with e-cigarettes as they weigh the benefits and risks to the
general population and subgroups of individuals.
To examine available
clinical data about e-cigarette use and cessation among cancer patients, Jamie
Ostroff, PhD, of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City,
and her colleagues studied 1074 cancer patients who smoked and were enrolled
between 2012 and 2013 in a tobacco treatment program within a comprehensive
cancer center.
The researchers
observed a three-fold increase in e-cigarette use from 2012 to 2013 (10.6
percent versus 38.5 percent). At enrollment, e-cigarette users were more
nicotine dependent than non-users, had more prior quit attempts, and were more
likely to be diagnosed with lung or head and neck cancers. At follow-up,
e-cigarette users were just as likely as non-users to be smoking. Seven day
abstinence rates were 44.4 percent versus 43.1 percent for e-cigarette users
and non-users, respectively (excluding patients who were lost to follow-up).
"Consistent with
recent observations of increased e-cigarette use in the general population, our
findings illustrate that e-cigarette use among tobacco-dependent cancer
patients has increased within the past two years," said Dr. Ostroff. She
stressed that the study had several limitations, and additional studies are
required. "Controlled research is needed to evaluate the potential harms
and benefits of e-cigarettes as a potential cessation approach for cancer
patients. In the meantime, oncologists should advise all smokers to quit
smoking traditional combustible cigarettes, encourage use of FDA-approved
cessation medications, refer patients for smoking cessation counseling, and
provide education about the potential risks and lack of known benefits of
long-term e-cigarette use ."
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