To kick off National Cancer Survivor Month, Duke Cancer Institute has designated June 1, 2022, as Virtual Survivorship Day. Virtual events throughout the day provide education on physical and emotional well-being to help patients live their best lives during and after cancer treatment. Providers involved in all areas of care for cancer patients will come together virtually to host a day of live events, including yoga and tai chi classes, as well as interactive panel discussions with audience Q&A. The Survivorship Day website also features self-care ideas and resources, as well as information on services for patients and families. All Survivorship Day resources are provided free of charge by the Duke Supportive Care and Survivorship Center. Register for any of these free events here.
Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke is known to cause 12 different types of cancer, including lung, colon, liver, pancreatic, kidney, and blood cancer to name a few. The 2014 Surgeon General’s Report on the Health Consequences of Smoking highlights the benefits of tobacco cessation for people undergoing cancer treatment and for cancer survivors. Quitting smoking improves cancer patient prognosis, improving treatment response and decreasing side effects. For cancer survivors, it decreases the risk of cancer recurrence and the risk of developing a secondary primary cancer.
It is important for cancer patients, families, and providers to be informed of the adverse effects that smoking has on cancer cells and the improved prognosis among former smokers compared to those who currently smoke. Comprehensive cancer care that addresses tobacco use is crucial in providing the highest level of care for patients and their caregivers.
The nationally accredited Duke-UNC Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Program offers comprehensive TTS training and 1-day CE intensive training for medical, behavioral, and public health professionals on treating tobacco dependence using the most current evidence-based research. Visit our website to learn more about the comprehensive TTS training and 1-day CE intensives. Check out our FREE 2.0-hour CE module for an introduction to behavioral and mindfulness approaches to tobacco treatment.
About the Author
Remi Philips is an undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and is interested in pursuing a career in public health and medicine. This summer she is an intern with the Duke Smoking Cessation Program.
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