Impact of Family and Social Network on Tobacco Cessation Amongst Cancer Patients

Abstract

Continued smoking after a cancer diagnosis adversely affects outcomes, including recurrence of the primary cancer and/or the development of second primary cancers. Despite this, prevalence of smoking is high in cancer survivors and higher in survivors of tobacco-related cancers. The diagnosis of cancer provides a teachable moment, and social networks, such as family, friends, and social groups, seem to play a significant role in smoking habits of cancer patients. Interventions that involve members of patients’ social network, especially those who also smoke, might improve tobacco cessation rates. Very few studies have been conducted to evaluate and target patients’ social networks. Yet, many studies have demonstrated that cancer survivors who received higher levels of social support were less likely to be current smokers. Clinicians should be doing as much as they can to encourage smoking cessation in both patients and relevant family members. Research aimed at influencing smoking behavioral change in the entire family is needed to increase cessation intervention success rate, which can ultimately improve the health and longevity of patients as well as their family members.