MOSCOW, August 6 (RIA Novosti) - Nearly 10 percent of long-term cancer survivors continue to smoke despite the health risks, a study released on Wednesday suggests.
“Approximately nine years after diagnosis, 9.3 percent of all survivors were current (past 30-day) smokers. Smoking prevalence was highest among survivors of bladder (17.2 percent), lung (14.9 percent), and ovarian (11.6 percent) cancers,” the study published in the Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention journal says.
The study conducted by the Behavioral Research Center (BRC) of the American Cancer Society and Emory University’s Behavioral Sciences and Health Education department also found that the prevalence of smokers was higher among younger and less-educated cancer survivors. Grater alcohol consumption was also linked to increased smoking.
According to the data provided, most currently smoking cancer survivors smoked daily, while 40 percent of daily smokers consumed more than 15 cigarettes per day. Only one third of the current smokers questioned were planning to quit.
The study was based on a US-wide survey conducted among the survivors of 10 types of cancer.
Another study released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in February suggests that 18.1 percent of American adults or 42.1 million Americans are smokers. Cigarette smoking accounts for more than 480,000 deaths each year.
