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Smoking

Saying no to a cigarette

We strongly advice you to stop smoking before your cancer treatment. Quitting smoking can help your body respond to treatment and heal more quickly.

As well as improving your quality of life following treatment, if you are having surgery as part of your treatment stopping smoking can help to reduce:

  • likelihood of treatment interruptions
  • heart, lung and wound related complications
  • wound healing time
  • your length of stay in hospital
  • associated symptoms from treatment

If you are having radiotherapy as part of your treatment, it may be more effective if you stop smoking. It may also reduce side effects and improve your overall feeling of wellbeing.

There are lots of options available to help you stop smoking. The best way to stop smoking is using a combination of a stop smoking treatment or medicines and specialist support.

Talk to your hospital team about specialist help that may be available.

 Go here to view the Health Hub video Living well: Stopping Smoking.

Vaping

Vaping has not been around for long enough to know the risks of long-term use. While vaping is less harmful than smoking, it is unlikely to be totally harmless.

The best option is not to smoke or vape. If you are vaping to quit smoking aim to eventually stop vaping too.

 

More information

The following pages provide more information and support to help you stop smoking:

 

Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth a galwadau ffôn yn y Gymraeg neu'r Saesneg. Atebir gohebiaeth Gymraeg yn y Gymraeg, ac ni fydd hyn yn arwain at oedi. Mae’r dudalen hon ar gael yn Gymraeg drwy bwyso’r botwm ar y dde ar frig y dudalen.

We welcome correspondence and telephone calls in Welsh or English. Welsh language correspondence will be replied to in Welsh, and this will not lead to a delay. This page is available in Welsh by clicking ‘Cymraeg’ at the top right of this page.