Cancer and Tobacco Abuse
Conditions
Keywords
Cancer treatment and tobacco abuse
Brief summary
To test the feasibility of an intensive behavioral and pharmacologic tobacco cessation program for radiation oncology patients and their families/companions.
Detailed description
There is overwhelming evidence to support tobacco use as the number one cause of preventable cancer and cardiovascular death. Smoking is responsible for at least 30% of all cancer deaths and nearly 90% of lung cancer deaths. There is robust phase III randomized data to show improved smoking cessation with both behavioral strategies as well as pharmacologic interventions such as bupropion. Despite significant evidence showing survival, toxicity and quality of life detriments in cancer patients who continue smoking after diagnosis, roughly one third of cancer patients continue to use tobacco. There is a relative paucity of data regarding smoking cessation programs in cancer patient populations. Several single institution, as well as cooperative group (ECOG), efforts have been published with varying results. However, to date, there are no published reports on the success of pharmacologic smoking cessation interventions in cancer patients. Patients undergoing definitive/curative radiotherapy often receive daily treatment over the course of three to eight weeks. They are often accompanied and supported daily by family members or companions, many of whom smoke. This represents a huge exposure to the health care system and a unique opportunity for intensive intervention in both cancer patients and their families/companions during their daily routine of radiotherapy. To date, there is no published report on intensive tobacco cessation intervention concurrent with radiotherapy in cancer patients and their families or companions. We propose a feasibility study of an intensive tobacco cessation program to be delivered to radiation oncology patients and/or their family/companions concurrent with planned radiotherapy. This program will feature an intensive behavioral intervention as well as the pharmacologic agent bupropion.
Interventions
DRUGBupropion and intensive behavioral therapy
To prescribe bupropion and behavioral therapy to patients and/or their families, who are currently receiving radiation.
Sponsors
Walther Cancer Institute
Indiana University School of Medicine
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Eligibility for Radiotherapy Patients * age 18 years or older * receiving three weeks or more of external beam radiotherapy * report smoking one or more cigarettes in the past 30 days or self-identify as a smoker * Cancer Stage: * Stage I-III * IVa Head and Neck Malignancy is allowed * Stage I-IV breast, prostate, testis or lymphoma also allowed * at least one year life expectancy * have given written informed consent * KPS 70-100 Eligibility for Family/Companions of Radiotherapy Patients (Note: Family members/companions are eligible for this protocol regardless of whether the index radiotherapy patient is eligible or willing to participate.) * age 18 years or older * at least one year life expectancy * radiotherapy patient is receiving three weeks or more of external beam radiotherapy * Person is committed to bringing/accompanying the patient to radiotherapy at least three days per week. * report smoking one or more cigarettes in the past 30 days or self-identify as a smoker * Family member/companion of patients under radiotherapy treatment for any stage of cancer * have given written informed consent * KPS 70-100
Exclusion criteria
*
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| To test the feasibility of using the medication bupropion and behavioral therapy to help people stop smoking in the radiation oncology clinic. | 1 year from enrollment |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Smoking cessation status will be formally assessed by patient report, and for those reporting tobacco abstinence, confirmed by carbon monoxide breath testing concentrations of 10 ppm or less. | 1 year from enrollment |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed