New findings may make it easier for doctors to help smokers quit. Past research pointed to lung cancer screenings as a good time to discuss quitting. But a 2025 study shows the type of assistance for quitting smoking makes a big difference.
Experts note that more than 80% of all lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking. Even though rates have decreased from historic highs, smoking is still the leading cause of preventable disease and death. Quitting smoking is difficult, which means the study provides important, potentially life-saving insights.
What Did the Study Find?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s fairly rare for people to successfully quit smoking. In 2022, just 9% of smokers who tried to quit were successful. But this new study achieved a success rate of nearly 40%.
The clinical trial included 630 adults who smoked an average of 16 cigarettes per day. Researchers divided them into 3 groups:
- Group 1: Referral to the quitline and standard nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)
- Group 2: Referral to the quitline and advice from a lung cancer screening radiologist on NRT medications
- Group 3: Intensive counseling from dedicated tobacco treatment specialists and a wider range of NRT options
After 3 months of assistance, the results were encouraging. The percentages of patients who successfully quit were:
- Group 1: 25%
- Group 2: 27%
- Group 3: 37%
The comprehensive support in Group 3 improved quitting success by about 40% compared to the other programs. This information may help improve the odds for people hoping to quit smoking in the future.
Future Directions
The study results certainly give us reason to hope, but there’s more work to be done. The study participants did not evenly represent different population groups. The authors say future work should strive to include patients who better reflect the diversity in this country.
The study also pointed out that some care centers may not be able to keep a cessation specialist on staff. This could make it difficult to provide the best support.
Finally, other studies indicate that Americans are skipping lung cancer screenings. Fewer people getting screened means fewer opportunities to discuss the benefits of quitting. So health infrastructure updates may be crucial in helping smokers quit.
Why the Study Matters
Researchers still have more to discover. But these findings provide a roadmap for designing programs that truly help people quit smoking.
While smoking doesn’t cause mesothelioma, both mesothelioma and lung cancer need expert treatment. Reducing the number of lung cancer cases could reduce some of the burden of cancer care in the United States. In turn, more resources might be available to fight other cancers, including mesothelioma.
Sources
American Cancer Society. Health Benefits of Quitting Smoking Over Time.
National Cancer Institute. Intensive Program Helps People Being Screened for Lung Cancer Quit Smoking.
Park ER, Haas JS, Rigotti NA, Neil JM, Marotta CJ, Wint AJ, et al. Integrating tobacco treatment into lung cancer screening: the screen assist factorial randomized clinical trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2025 May 1;185(5):531–9.
Radiological Society of North America. Screening Sharply Improves Lung Cancer Long-term Survival.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults in the United States.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health and Economic Benefits of Tobacco Use Interventions.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lung Cancer Risk Factors.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Smoking Cessation: Fast Facts.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Why Quitting Smoking Is Hard.
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Tara Strand specializes in writing content about mesothelioma and asbestos. She focuses on topics like mesothelioma awareness, research, treatment, asbestos trust funds and other advocacy efforts.
