According to a new study by the American Cancer Society, nearly one in ten cancer survivors say they're still smoking many years after their diagnosis.
That comes as no surprise to Dr.Chunkit Fung at the Wilmot Cancer Institute. He says they have seen an even greater percentage of cancer patients who have trouble quitting smoking."For our lung cancer clinic and bladder cancer clinic, we see a lot of smokers. I would estimate that between 15 and 20 percent of them continue to smoke, at the Wilmot Cancer Institute."
According to the study, cancer patients who were most likely to still be smoking after diagnosis were younger, females with less education and lower income.
Dr. Fung says this highlights the disparities in our health care system that impact those of lower socio-economic status.
The Wilmot Cancer Institute began an inpatient smoking cessation program last fall. About 36 percent of patients enrolled in the program were able to quit smoking within three months. Wilmot is adding an outpatient program for tobacco-dependent patients within the next two to three months.
