Smoking, tobacco and breast cancer outcomes

Smoking and other tobacco use are harmful for everyone, and they matter in specific ways for people with breast cancer. Research suggests that women who smoke at the time of diagnosis or continue smoking afterwards have a higher risk of dying from breast cancer and from other causes, such as heart disease, lung disease and other cancers, compared with women who never smoked or who quit. Some studies also link smoking with a higher risk of breast cancer recurrence and of a new cancer in the other breast. Smoking causes practical problems during treatment too. It slows wound healing and increases the risk of infection and complications after surgery, especially breast reconstruction. It worsens lung and heart damage from radiation, particularly when the chest is treated, and can increase side effects from some treatments. In India, tobacco is used in many forms beyond cigarettes, including bidis, hookah, gutka, khaini, zarda and paan with tobacco, and all carry serious health risks, including mouth and throat cancers. Second-hand smoke at home also affects health. The good news is that stopping tobacco at any point brings benefits, including better healing, fewer treatment complications and lower risk of heart and lung disease. Quitting is hard, but counselling, nicotine replacement and prescription medicines can greatly improve the chances of success.

It is never too late to quit

Stopping tobacco benefits health at any stage of treatment or recovery.

All tobacco forms are harmful

Chewing tobacco, bidis and hookah carry serious risks too.

Help improves success

Support and medicines greatly increase the chance of quitting.

Stopping tobacco before surgery reduces complications.

Better healing

Blood flow to wounds improves soon after stopping.

Lower infection risk

Wound infections are less likely in people who stop.

Safer reconstruction

Surgeons may delay reconstruction in people who continue smoking.

Safer anaesthesia

Lungs work better during and after surgery.

When you stop tobacco, the body and mind need time to adjust. Knowing what to expect makes it easier to get through the first few weeks.

Common symptoms

Cravings, irritability, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, increased appetite, poor sleep and low mood are common in the first days and weeks. They usually ease steadily over time.

The four Ds

When a craving strikes, delay for a few minutes, drink water, take deep breaths and do something else, such as walking or calling a friend. Most cravings pass within minutes.

Use nicotine replacement properly

Using patches together with gum or lozenges for sudden cravings, at the doses advised, is more effective than using one product alone.

Watch your weight

Appetite may increase. Keep healthy snacks such as fruit, roasted chana or carrots handy, and stay active.

Manage stress

Cancer treatment can be stressful, which increases cravings. Relaxation, counselling and support groups help.

Avoid triggers early on

Temporarily avoid places, people or routines strongly linked with tobacco use.

If you slip

A single slip does not mean failure. Learn from it and continue your quit plan.