UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Objectives: Despite strong smoking cessation recommenations from clinicians many cancer patients continue to smoke past diagnosis and treatment, even though smoking may cause more side effects, limit the treatment options and increse the risk for treatment failure. Methods: We have developed a nurse-led smoking cessation program including support, easy available alterative nicotine products and models for behaviour change. The program has been tested in qualitative and quantitative studies on patients with head and neck (H&N) cancer with carbon monoxide verfication of current smoking status. Results: Our studies showed that a majority (74%) of patients with H&N cancer were tested smoke-free during radiotherapy and 68 % were tested smoke free after one year. The therapeutic patient-nurse relationship was reported to be important for the smoking cessation process. The program has later been developed to include all groups of cancer patients and new studies are on-going. Our results and experiences will be discussed during the presentation.