gms | German Medical Science

Smokers have a many times higher risk to be taken ill with different types of cancer. Some smokers continue to smoke until the start and during their therapy of cancer. Clinical studies indicate that smoking is associated with poorer outcomes in such patients. The purpose of this study was to systematically review the influence of smoking on the outcome of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgical therapy for different types of cancer. Smoking during irradiation is associated with poorer survival rates, a higher rate of recurrent disease and increased rates of side effects like pneumonitis and infection. Smoking during chemotherapy is associated with poorer response and survival rates. After resection procedures of lung, colorectal and kidney tumours wound-healing complications, infections, pulmonary complications, reoperations and dehiscence of anastomosis are increased in patients who are smoking until the time of surgery. Current smoking at diagnosis is an important independent predictor of shortened lung cancer survival regardless the type of intervention. Continuation of smoking during the treatment of lung cancer was associated with poor prognosis, while discontinuation of smoking, even at diagnosis, may have beneficial effects on survival. Interventions for smoking cessation can be regarded as an adjuvant therapy for malignant tumours. Particularly patients undergoing multimodality therapy may benefit from smoking cessation following diagnosis of cancer.