Smoking Isn't So Easy to Give Up for Cancer Survivors: 10% Just Can't Quit

Despite health warnings, a 2012 National Health survey found that roughly 18 percent of adults smoke cigarettes. Smoking can increase the risk of serious health issues, including certain types of cancer.

A recent study looked at how survivors of smoking-related cancers may struggle with kicking the habit. Findings published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention found that nearly one in 10 long-term patients will return to smoking following treatments.

The study reiterates "just how difficult it is to quit," said lead study author Lee Westmass, an American Cancer Society researcher, via USA Today.

Though nicotine can create a pleasant feeling in small amounts, the chemicals found in the drug flood the brain's reward circuits over time and start to make regular users regularly grave the need for this feeling. Many dependent users often suffer from a physical and emotional addiction to the drug, according to the American Cancer Society.

Study findings revealed that the overall smoking rate among survivors was just about 9 percent; that's about half the rate of all U.S. adults. For bladder and lung cancer survivors, in particular, the rates were 17 and 14 percent, respectively.

Many patients who did smoke also seemed to smoke heavily, according to the results. The study revealed that close to 83 percent smoked daily, inhaling an average of nearly 15 cigarettes per day. Furthermore, smoking was more common among women than men and linked to lower education and income levels, overall.

For survivors or anyone looking to quite, health officials strongly recommend counseling, potentially medication and other approaches that have shown positive outcomes for many in the past. 

Unfortunately, some people may just not want to give it up.

"It seems like a lot of them do want to quit," Westmaas added. "But we think that the level of addiction they have and the lack of knowledge about available treatments is another issue."