Image
Practice Point
Healthy lifestyle advice – Smoking cessation
Strongly encourage all patients with breast cancer to stop smoking. Advise patients that smoking increases the risk of complications of treatment (e.g. wound infection, deep vein thrombosis) and breast cancer recurrence, and worsens vasomotor symptoms.
It is recommended that primary care clinicians should counsel survivors to avoid smoking and refer survivors who smoke to cessation counseling and resources (Level of evidence – 1)
Useful Links
How this guidance was developed
This recommendation was adapted from ACS/ASCO (2016) breast cancer survivorship care guideline (US). The source recommendation was based on a systematic review of the evidence conducted to April 2015 and was not graded by the guideline authors. The recommendation was adapted by including detail regarding the reasons for stopping smoking. This additional information was informed by a recommendation in the ASPS 2014 (US) guidelines which indicated that 'Smoking is associated with an increased risk of complications and an increased risk of reconstructive failure in patients undergoing post-mastectomy expander/implant breast reconstruction. Patients should be informed of the increased risks and advised on smoking cessation as means to decrease surgical complications. Additionally, it should be recognized that the decision to proceed with surgery may preclude timely smoking cessation.’
Related guidance by topic
Healthy lifestyle advice – Smoking cessation
Practice Point
Strongly encourage all patients with breast cancer to stop smoking. Advise patients that smoking increases the risk of complications of treatment (e.g. wound infection, deep vein thrombosis) and breast cancer recurrence, and worsens vasomotor symptoms.
Principles in action
Patient-centred care
Image
Safe and quality care
Image
Supportive care
Useful Links
This recommendation was adapted from ACS/ASCO (2016) breast cancer survivorship care guideline (US). The source recommendation was based on a systematic review of the evidence conducted to April 2015 and was not graded by the guideline authors. The recommendation was adapted by including detail regarding the reasons for stopping smoking. This additional information was informed by a recommendation in the ASPS 2014 (US) guidelines which indicated that 'Smoking is associated with an increased risk of complications and an increased risk of reconstructive failure in patients undergoing post-mastectomy expander/implant breast reconstruction. Patients should be informed of the increased risks and advised on smoking cessation as means to decrease surgical complications. Additionally, it should be recognized that the decision to proceed with surgery may preclude timely smoking cessation.’
Related guidance by topic
Image
