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Smoking and Lung Cancer Prognosis
Recent research from the National Lung Screening Trial suggests that smoking behaviors at the time of lung cancer diagnosis can impact the stage of the cancer and the patient’s prognosis.
Key Findings:
- Current smokers and those who smoke shortly after waking up tend to have more advanced-stage lung cancer.
- Early morning smokers (≤5 min after waking) had a higher risk of progression and lower overall survival rates.
- The effect of early morning smoking on survival time was found to be entirely mediated through lung cancer stage.
These findings highlight the importance of addressing smoking behaviors at the time of lung cancer diagnosis to potentially improve long-term survival and quality of life for patients.
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