Risks of Smoking While on Chemotherapy
Smoking is a hard habit to break, and the hardship of chemotherapy can leave many former smokers reaching for a cigarette. While opinions differ on the impact of smoking on the treatment, doctors agree that staying smoke-free increases the success of overall recovery.
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Reduced Effectiveness
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Chemotherapy can be grueling, but smoking may make all that perseverance a vain attempt. According to jointogether.org, scientists at the University of South Florida found evidence in a 2006 study that nicotine stops chemotherapy drugs from destroying cancer cells.
Further Impact
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In addition to reducing the effectiveness of treatment, usatoday.com reports that continued smoking can interfere with surgical wounds and tissue grafts, and "make patients less likely to respond to radiation therapy."
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Counter-Productive
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Regardless of the impact of smoking on the treatment itself, continuing your tobacco habit while recovering from cancer is counter-productive. Smoking cessation lowers the risk of cancer recurring—or of new cancers developing. And that is the goal of chemotherapy.
Overall Health
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Cancer.gov reports that smoking is harmful to the body as a whole. Chemotherapy heavily taxes the body's resources, and smoking only adds to the stress.
Secondary Complications
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Both smoking and chemotherapy weaken the immune system. Smoking while on treatment puts the patient in double jeopardy, increasing the chances of infection.
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References
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