Barbara G Campling1, Zhong Ye2, Yinzhi Lai2, Ling Li2, Voichita Bar-Ad3, Maria Werner-Wasik3, Bo Lu3, Scott W Cowan4, Nathaniel R Evans4, Inna Chervoneva5, Chun Wang6. 1. BC Cancer, Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre for the Southern Interior, 399 Royal Avenue, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 5L3, Canada. Barbara.Campling@bccancer.bc.ca. 2. Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, 1025 Walnut Street, Suite 727, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA. 3. Department of Radiation Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 4. Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 5. Division of Biostatistics, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 6. Department of Medical Oncology, Thomas Jefferson University, 1025 Walnut Street, Suite 727, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA. Chun.Wang@jefferson.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE: In a previous study of smoking cessation in veterans with lung cancer, we noted as an incidental finding that current smokers were much younger than former smokers at diagnosis. To confirm and extend this observation, we analyzed the association of smoking status with age at diagnosis and survival of lung cancer patients. METHODS: The Jefferson Cancer Registry collects information on all cancer patients registered at this hospital. Information on smoking status has been recorded since 1995. We determined age at diagnosis and survival of current and former smokers with lung cancer. RESULTS: 5111 lung cancer cases were identified in the registry from 1995 to 2011 inclusive. Smoking status was recorded in 4687 cases (91.7%). Of these, 1859 (39.7%) were current, 2423 (51.7%) were former, and 405 (8.6%) were never smokers. There was a 6-year difference in median age at lung cancer diagnosis between the current (63 years) and former smokers (69 years) (P < 0.0001). The median survival was 12.1 months for current versus 14.5 months for former smokers (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm and extend our observation that among patients diagnosed with lung cancer, current smokers are younger than former smokers. The possible explanations include higher competing causes of death and increased risk of lung cancer among current smokers as well as increasing proportions of former smokers in older populations. Ongoing exposure to tobacco carcinogens may accelerate the development of lung cancer in continuing smokers. This provides more incentive for smokers to quit at the earliest age possible.
PURPOSE: In a previous study of smoking cessation in veterans with lung cancer, we noted as an incidental finding that current smokers were much younger than former smokers at diagnosis. To confirm and extend this observation, we analyzed the association of smoking status with age at diagnosis and survival of lung cancerpatients. METHODS: The Jefferson Cancer Registry collects information on all cancerpatients registered at this hospital. Information on smoking status has been recorded since 1995. We determined age at diagnosis and survival of current and former smokers with lung cancer. RESULTS: 5111 lung cancer cases were identified in the registry from 1995 to 2011 inclusive. Smoking status was recorded in 4687 cases (91.7%). Of these, 1859 (39.7%) were current, 2423 (51.7%) were former, and 405 (8.6%) were never smokers. There was a 6-year difference in median age at lung cancer diagnosis between the current (63 years) and former smokers (69 years) (P < 0.0001). The median survival was 12.1 months for current versus 14.5 months for former smokers (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm and extend our observation that among patients diagnosed with lung cancer, current smokers are younger than former smokers. The possible explanations include higher competing causes of death and increased risk of lung cancer among current smokers as well as increasing proportions of former smokers in older populations. Ongoing exposure to tobacco carcinogens may accelerate the development of lung cancer in continuing smokers. This provides more incentive for smokers to quit at the earliest age possible.
Entities:
Keywords:
Age disparity; Cancer registry; Lung neoplasms; Smoking; Smoking cessation
Authors: Sarah Cullivan; Sarah Ni Mhaolcatha; Michael T Henry; Nazri Kaderi Muhammad; William Mullally; Richard M Bambury; Louise Burke; Marcus P Kennedy Journal: Transl Cancer Res Date: 2019-08 Impact factor: 1.241