Immediate Stop Smoking Symptom of Lung Cancer?

Immediate quit smoking symptom of lung cancer?

01/03/2011

Scientists have found that there is a possible link between an immediate stop smoking and the later onset of lung cancer. Before the cancer is detected, a majority of patients spontaneously stop smoking, even though they did not feel any lung cancer symptoms and did not know about their serious condition. Researchers at the Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia suspect that the tumor produces a messenger that greatly facilitates and provokes quitting. A majority of patients said in a study that it was much easier for them to quit smoking.

Study with 115 lung cancer patients
For some time, doctors and scientists have been observing an unusual connection. Many lung cancer patients spontaneously stopped smoking shortly before the diagnosis of the disease. Due to the lack of initial symptoms, lung cancer is often recognized only in the late stages. The sudden cessation of smoking without addiction complications could therefore be a first symptom of lung cancer according to the researchers. To confirm the assumption, oncologists at Thomas Jefferson University undertook a patient study. The study interviewed a total of 115 patients who had smoked for a prolonged period prior to the onset of lung cancer. About half of all respondents had already quit smoking before the serious diagnosis. Only about 11 percent of the subjects stated that they had initiated smoking cessation due to sensed lung symptoms. Although all patients had approximately the same nicotine abuse, one-third of the participants stated that they quit smoking without difficulty. All previous attempts had repeatedly failed, as many participants emphasized.

2.7 years to the onset of lung cancer
In a second round, the researchers interviewed other patients about their previous use of smoke in order to substantiate the results of the study. Again, the surveyed patient groups had given up smoking in advance. In lung cancer patients, the disease was diagnosed on average 2.7 years after smoking cessation, so it took about 24 years in prostate cancer. Patients who had a heart attack stopped consuming on average about 10 years earlier.

"It is well known that many lung cancer patients stopped smoking before they were diagnosed," says scientist and oncologist Barbara Campling. Many doctors do not take this observation seriously, they say the patients have quit smoking because of sensed symptoms. But for a majority of respondents this was not the case, the expert said. Moreover, contrary to earlier disgust, a majority would have found it much easier to stop smoking. For the researchers around Campling now the question arises whether the spontaneously occurring quit is itself an early symptom of lung cancer. However, the result of the study should not be misunderstood; continuing it does not mean that the disease does not break out. In any case, the immediate cessation of consumption is recommended. A scientific report on the study has been published in the journal "Journal of Thoracic Oncology".

46,000 new lung cancer diagnoses
Every year, around 46,000 people in Germany become ill with lung cancer. In about 90 percent of the cases, the victims have previously smoked. The inhalative tobacco smoking is thus undisputed, among other genetic factors a major trigger for bronchial carcinoma. (Sb)

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Picture credits: Bettina Stolze