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Aoife McNamara
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MS 04 - Joint IASLC/GLCC Session Current Issues in Lung Cancer Advocacy (ID 526)
- Event: WCLC 2017
- Type: Mini Symposium
- Track: Patient Advocacy
- Presentations: 1
- Moderators:Natasha B Leighl, Maureen Rigney
- Coordinates: 10/16/2017, 11:00 - 12:30, Room 316
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MS 04.05 - Lung Cancer Patients and Stopping Smoking - What Advocates Need to Know (ID 7657)
12:00 - 12:15 | Presenting Author(s): Aoife McNamara
- Abstract
- Presentation
Abstract:
Smoking and lung cancer Since the 1950’s, smoking has been associated with lung cancer (US National Llibrary of Medicine, 2017). Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide and the biggest cancer killer (World Health Organisation, 2017). The majority of lung cancer diagnoses are due to smoking (US National Llibrary of Medicine, 2017), yet these frightening statistics have not deterred people around the globe from smoking. The World Health Organisation estimated that, in 2015, 1.1 billion people smoked tobacco. Within this cohort are lung cancer patients and their families, unable or unaware of why they should quit. This presents a great challenge to patient advocates worldwide. Awareness Awareness of the significant health risks associated with smoking vary around the world, so the role of the patient advocate also varies from country to country. In 2013 the Global Lung Cancer Coalition launched a survey, carried out by Ipsos MORI, investigating awareness of the symptoms of lung cancer and smoking prevalence in 21 countries. Researchers found that across all the countries, 22% of people surveyed admitted they could not name any symptoms of the disease. Over 17,000 people were surveyed, among them former smokers were slightly more likely to be aware of symptoms than current smokers or people who have never smoked. Multiple studies have replicated similar differences in awareness of the link between smoking and lung cancer across countries. Research performed by the Irish Cancer Society in 2015 found that; 92 out of 100 smokers know that smoking causes lung cancer. In contrast, the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (2010) found that in China; 23% of adults believe smoking causes stroke, heart attack, and lung cancer. While every country requires a message specific to their population, the common theme is stopping smoking is the most important thing the public can do to reduce their risk of lung cancer and it is never too late to benefit from stopping, even after a diagnosis of a smoking-related disease. Benefits of quitting Smoking not only increases your risk of lung cancer, but of multiple cancers, heart disease, stroke, lung disease, and fertility and pregnancy problems (US National Library of Medicine, 2017). Tobacco smoke contains around 7,000 chemicals. Many of these are poisonous and over 60 are known to be cancer causing. For people already diagnosed with lung cancer, smoking cessation can seem pointless but there are clear benefits to stopping smoking including better treatment efficacy, fewer side-effects, less risk of recurrence and less risk of developing other smoking-related health problems (American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2016). There are immediate and long-term health benefits of quitting for all smokers, including those already diagnosed with lung cancer, including (World Health Organisation, 2017): Within 20 minutes, your heart rate and blood pressure drop After 12 hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal Within 2-12 weeks, your circulation improves and your lung function increases At 1-9 months, coughing and shortness of breath decrease By 1 year, your risk of coronary heart disease is about half that of a smoker's Within 5-15years, your stroke risk is reduced to that of a non-smoker By 10 years, your risk of lung cancer falls to about half that of a smoker and your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decreases Within 15 years, the risk of coronary heart disease is that of a non-smoker’s. Role of advocates Advocates have an opportunity to promote smoking cessation on a National scale as well as at an individual level. This can seem like an overwhelming task in light of the significant health burden smoking presents, however international support is available. In 2005 The World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) was created. This evidence-based treaty reaffirms the right of people to the highest standard of health, provides legal dimensions for international health cooperation and sets high standards for compliance. Each MPOWER measure corresponds to at least 1 provision of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The 6 MPOWER measures are: Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies Protect people from tobacco use Offer help to quit tobacco use Warn about the dangers of tobacco Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship Raise taxes on tobacco. At an individual level, advocates can play a vital role in encouraging lung cancer patients and their families to avail of behavioural support and medication to assist their smoking cessation efforts. Lung cancer patients are burdened with elevated levels of distress in comparison to other cancers (Zabora et al., 2001) and research suggests that stigma and the association with tobacco is a very real issue for lung cancer patients (Chapple et al., 2004). This is in addition to being diagnosed with the biggest cancer killer worldwide, a probable late stage diagnosis, poor prognosis and debilitating symptoms. For the lung cancer patient, advocate guidance and support is vital to successfully quit smoking. People diagnosed with cancer often keep quiet about their smoking because (American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2016): they fear judgement or blame from their family or doctor they think they might get less support for their cancer treatment the think it is pointless to stop as they already have cancer they believe smoking helps them cope with stress they have tried to stop before unsuccessfully. The challenge for patient advocates is balancing this support at an individual level with the need to evoke change at a National and International level.
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