Smoking habist have a risk  that can damage cells and cause cancer. However, based on the study, not a few people who still smoke despite having been diagnosed with cancer.

The study conducted by researchers Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School showed that a large number of people,  continue to smoke cigarettes even after being diagnosed with lung cancer and colorectal cancer (colon).

Though quitting smoking after a cancer diagnosis is an important act because it can negatively affect a patient’s response to treatment, severity and potential risk to patient survival.

In the study, researchers studied the smoking rates of patients at diagnosis and five months after his diagnosis in 5338 patients with lung cancer and colorectal.

The results of studies that have been published in the journal Cancer reports, indicate that 39 percent of patients at diagnosis of lung cancer and 14 percent of patients with colorectal cancer were smoking when diagnosed with cancer. Five months later, 14 percent of lung cancer patients and 9 percent of colorectal cancer patients still smoking, according to a statement Harvard Medical School.

These results indicate that a large minority of cancer patients continue to smoke after diagnosis of cancer. Although lung cancer patients have higher rates of smoking at the time of diagnosis and after diagnosis, colorectal cancer patients were less likely to quit smoking in the next diagnosis.

Colorectal cancer patients who continue to smoke tend to be male sex, low education level, are uninsured, do not have to undergo surgery and who used to smoke with the highest number per day.

“These findings may help doctors identify cancer patients at risk for smoking and tobacco counseling care guide for cancer patients,” said Elyse R. Park, from Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School in Boston, as reported by timeofindia.

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