About the program
The BC Cancer Smoking Cessation Program started in September 2019 in all cancer centres across the province. All new BC Cancer patients are asked about their tobacco use. We can then give patients who smoke the information that they need about the benefits of quitting. This can lead to better results from their cancer treatment. We help patients with the tools to quit by referring them to QuitNow, BC's provincial cessation program.
Giving patients the knowledge, motivation and tools to quit at the time of a cancer diagnosis, is one of the most important parts of their treatment.
We know that people will live longer and better lives if they are able to stop smoking at the time of their treatment.
If you were a cancer patient before September 2019 and are still involved with BC Cancer, please ask your cancer care team for more information on quitting smoking. If you are not involved with BC Cancer, but want to quit smoking or help someone else quit smoking, please contact the provincial quit line - QuitNow - directly at 1.877.455.2233 or visit https://www.quitnow.ca
QuitNow is a free program in British Columbia that will help you with a personal plan for quitting smoking.
Stopping smoking at the time of a cancer
diagnosis can improve the results of your treatment and reduce the side effects you may experience from
chemotherapy, radiation therapy and/or surgery.
Research shows that cancer patients who quit smoking:
- Have a better chance of successful treatment
- Improve their health and their body’s response to treatment
- Have fewer serious side effects
- Have faster recovery from treatment
- Have a lower risk of their cancer coming back or of them getting another form of cancer
- Have a lower risk of infection
- Find it easier to breathe
- Have more energy
- Experience better quality of life and outcomes, even when living with an incurable cancer