Smoking Cessation > Effectiveness/Harms of Behavior Change on Clinical Outcomes Author: Kumanan Wilson, MD
Editorial changes - 2009-11-18
Author information and module status
Key Points
Population at Risk
Effectiveness/Harms of Counseling or Intervention on Changing Behavior
Effectiveness/Harms of Behavior Change on Clinical Outcomes
Direct Effectiveness of Intervention/Counseling on Clinical Outcomes
Timeline
Cost-Effectiveness
Patient Education
Referral/Consultation
Guidelines
Tables
References
What's New
Patient Information
Additional Resources
Tools
Quality Measures Quality Measures
Recommendation
Understand that smoking cessation has been associated with a significant reduction in malignancies.A
  • The risk for cancers of the oral cavity and esophagus may be reduced by half in former smokers after 5 years of not smoking.
  • The risk of lung cancer in former smokers may be 30% to 50% less than that of current smokers, and the risk of pancreatic cancer is reduced.
  • Bladder cancer and cervical cancer risks are also favorably affected by smoking cessation.

Evidence:

  • In 1990, the U.S. Surgeon General reviewed the literature on the risk of malignancy in former and current smokers and observed that after 10 years of smoking cessation the risk of lung cancer in former smokers was 30% to 50% less than that of current smokers. Individuals who quit smoking for 5 years had half the risk for cancers of the oral cavity and esophagus compared to smokers who continued. Smoking cessation also resulted in a 50% reduction in bladder cancer. Former smokers had a reduced risk of cervical cancer within a few years of smoking cessation, and a reduced risk of pancreatic cancer after 10 years of smoking cessation (7).

Comments:

  • None.

FAQs
Edward Ellerbeck, MD, MPH, editorial consultant, has no financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies, biomedical device manufacturers, or health-care related organizations. Kumanan Wilson, MD has no financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies, biomedical device manufacturers, or health-care related organizations.
Steven E. Weinberger, MD, FACP, Acting Editor, PIER, has stock holdings in Glaxosmithkline and Abbott.

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