For Patients

For Patients

Tobacco Cessation Treatment Program

A person breaks an unlit cigarette between their thumbs and fingers

Learn about smoking cessation services at OHSU

Quit smoking — starting today

At the Knight Cancer Institute, we want to help you quit smoking and live tobacco-free. To provide the best care for our cancer patients, we include smoking cessation programs as part of our cancer treatment. We provide support and education, including:

  • Telephone counseling with a tobacco treatment specialist
  • A monthly tobacco-free support group
  • Strategies to quit smoking

There are many reasons to quit smoking, and many benefits to your body:

  • You have a better chance for successful cancer treatment.
  • You may have fewer and less serious side effects from cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
  • You can reduce your risk of developing another cancer down the road.
  • You may recovery after treatment more quickly.
  • You can lower your risk of developing an infection.
  • You may be able to breathe more easily.
  • You may have more energy.
  • You may live longer and improve your overall quality of life

Ready to get started?

  • Call 1-800-QUIT NOW
                (1-800-784-8669)
     
  • Or ask your provider to have a tobacco treatment specialist contact you.

Preparing to quit smoking

Many treatments and resources, including medications and counseling, can help you stop using tobacco. Here are three tips on preparing to quit:

Commit to quit

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Plan a date to have your last cigarette and stick to it. Like with planning for a trip or any other big event, you need time to prepare. To improve your chances of success, allow a couple of weeks to prepare for quitting.

Make a plan

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Having a plan increases your chances of quitting. There are prescription and nonprescription products that can help you quit. Ask your health care team for more information.

Don’t give up on quitting

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Most people have a few failed attempts before they quit for good.

How quitting smoking changes your body

Here’s what happens after your last cigarette:

20-30 minutes Blood pressure and pulse drop. Hands and feet start to warm up.
8 hours Carbon monoxide in your blood drops, while oxygen level increases.
48 hours Sense of taste and smell improve.
72 hours Bronchial tubes relax.
2 weeks to 3 months Circulation, lung function and stamina improve.
1 to 9 months Coughing and sinus congestion decrease. Lungs are better able to clear mucus, keep clean and reduce infection. Overall energy improves.
1 year Risk of heart disease drops to half that of a smoker.
5 years Risk of stroke is the same as that of a nonsmoker. Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus and bladder are cut in half. Risk of cervical cancer falls to that of a nonsmoker.
10 years Lung cancer risk is half that of a nonsmoker. Risk of pancreatic cancer is roughly the same as a nonsmoker’s.
15 years Risk of heart disease is similar to a nonsmoker’s. Risk of death is nearly the same as a nonsmoker’s.

The Knight Cancer Institute's Tobacco Cessation Program is funded by the National Cancer Institute's C3I Cancer Moonshot™ Program.

To get started, call 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669)

Or ask your provider to have a tobacco treatment specialist contact you to offer support and resources.