Smoking makes lung cancer resistant to drugs

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), most smokers want to quit because they are aware of the dangers of this habit.

In Vietnam, to support smokers to quit smoking, the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund ( Ministry of Health ) has a free smoking cessation consultation hotline 18006606. According to Associate Professor, Dr. Phan Thu Phuong, Director of the Respiratory Center of Bach Mai Hospital (Hanoi), with short consultation from medical consultants, the rate of successful smoking cessation increases by 5 - 10%; the effectiveness of smoking cessation increases if the consultation time is maintained and the number of consultations is increased.

Smoking reduces the effectiveness of treatment for many diseases.

PHOTO: HA HUY

In 2024, 7,443 of the patients who smoked and came to Bach Mai Hospital for examination and treatment received advice on smoking cessation. Doctors help patients quit smoking by providing advice on quitting smoking, prescribing cessation medications, and providing ongoing monitoring and support to help prevent relapse.

In a study of 300 smokers, at the time of assessment, after being counseled by a doctor, 48.4% had quit smoking. Of these, 20.7% had quit smoking for 12 months or more; 15% had quit smoking for 6 to less than 12 months.

Notably, doctors confirm that smoking reduces the effectiveness of treatment for many diseases. In particular, people who have had coronary stents placed and continue to smoke will be at risk of thrombosis and other coronary artery blockages. For lung cancer patients, continuing to smoke will cause resistance to chemotherapy or new cancers.

On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day (May 31), the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund organized the National No Tobacco Week (May 25-31) with the theme "Exposing the false appeal", aiming to raise public awareness, especially among young people, about the harmful effects of tobacco and new tobacco products. The Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund said that currently in Vietnam, more than 7% of young people aged 15-24 regularly use e-cigarettes.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hut-thuoc-la-khien-ung-thu-phoi-khang-thuoc-185250526192912038.htm