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In 2015, 12.0% of cancer survivors aged 18 and older were current cigarette smokers.
Introduction
Despite their increased risk for chronic health conditions and premature death, many cancer survivors continue to smoke after their diagnosis. Young survivors (those younger than age 40) may be at particular risk for smoking. To enhance the length and health-related quality of their lives, efforts are needed to identify these individuals and provide them with evidence-based interventions to help them quit smoking and remain tobacco free.
As the population of cancer survivors increases and their expected time of survival lengthens, the health behaviors of these individuals is becoming an important focus of attention. Adoption or maintenance of healthy lifestyles after cancer has the potential to reduce both cancer- and non-cancer-related morbidity. In some cases, lifestyle choices such as smoking may also affect survival. Tracking these behaviors permits evaluation of how well cancer control efforts are working to reduce unnecessary disability and death among those with a history of cancer.
Examination of survivors’ smoking status was first added to the Cancer Trends Progress Report in the 2009–2010 issue. We update these numbers through 2015 here.
Measure
Rates of smoking among cancer survivors are based on the self-reporting of individuals with a cancer history who are interviewed as part of the annual population-based National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Participants were asked whether they were a current smoker.
Healthy People 2020 Target
- There is no Healthy People 2020 target for smoking rates among cancer survivors, though it does include a national objective to increase the mental and physical health-related quality of life of cancer survivors. However, it is reasonable to set this at the goal determined for the general population, which is to decrease to 12 percent the proportion of people who smoke.
Healthy People 2020 is a set of goals set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Data Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. National Health Interview Survey, 1992–2015.
Trends and Most Recent Estimates
By Sex
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2015) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of cancer survivors | Confidence Interval | ||
|
Both Sexes
|
12.0 | (10.6 - 13.5) |
Male
|
12.9 | (10.0 - 15.8) | |
Female
|
11.5 | (9.8 - 13.2) | |
By Age
| Overview Graph | Detailed Trend Graphs | Most Recent Estimates (2015) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of cancer survivors | Confidence Interval | ||
|
Ages 18-44
|
29.2 | (21.9 - 36.5) |
Ages 45-64
|
16.6 | (13.4 - 19.8) | |
Ages 65 and older
|
6.6 | (5.0 - 8.2) | |
Compared to Remaining U.S. Population
| Overview graph | Age Group | Cancer Survivor | Remaining U.S. Population | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent of population | Confidence Interval | Percent of population | Confidence Interval | ||
|
Ages 18-44 | 33.3 | (30.8 - 35.9) | 20.9 | (20.5 - 21.3) |
| Ages 45-64 | 21.5 | (20.3 - 22.7) | 20.3 | (19.9 - 20.7) | |
| Ages 65 and older | 8.2 | (7.6 - 8.9) | 9.1 | (8.7 - 9.5) | |
Additional Information on Cancer Survivors and Smoking
Scientific reports
- Health behaviors of cancer survivors: examining opportunities for cancer control intervention. Bellizzi KM, Rowland JH, Jeffery DD, McNeel T. J Clin Oncol 2005;23(34):8884–93.
- Correlates of continued smoking versus cessation among survivors of smoking-related cancers. Berg CJ, Thomas AN, Mertens AC, Schauer GL, et al. Psycho-Oncology 2013;22:799–806.
- Cancer survivors’ adherence to lifestyle behavior recommendations and associations with health-related quality of life: results from the American Cancer Society’s SCS-II. Blanchard CM, Courneya KS, Stein, K. J Clin Oncol 2008;26(13):2198–2204.
- Smoking behaviors among cancer survivors: an observational clinical study. Burke L, Miller LA, Saad A, Abraham J. Journal of Oncology Practice 2009;5(1):6–9.
- Promoting health and physical function among cancer survivors: potential for prevention and questions that remain. Demark-Wahnefried W, Pinto BM, Gritz ER. J Clin Oncol 2006;24(32):5125–31.
- Smoking prevention and cessation interventions for cancer survivors. DeMoor JS, Elder K, Emmons KM. Seminars in Oncology Nursing 2008;24(3):180–192.
- Health behaviors influence cancer survival. Gritz ER, Demark-Wahnefried W. J Clin Oncol 2009;27(12):1930–2.
- Successes and failures of the teachable moment: smoking cessation in cancer patients. Gritz ER, Fingeret MC, Vidrine DJ, et al. Cancer 2006;106(1):17–27.
- Tobacco use and cessation for cancer survivors: an overview for clinicians. Karam-Hage M, Cinciripini PM, Gritz ER. CA Cancer J Clin. 2014 Jul-Aug;64(4):272-90. doi: 10.3322/caac.21231. Review.
- Tobacco smoking and the risk of subsequent primary cancer among cancer survivors: a retrospective cohort study. Tabuchi T, Ito Y, Ioka A, Nakayama T, et al. Annals of Oncology 2013; 24(1):2699–2704.