Smoking Cessation

It’s never too late to quit or cut back on tobacco use. Combining support and medication can triple your chances of success.

Using commercial tobacco causes many types of cancer, including cancer of the lung, larynx, mouth, esophagus, throat, bladder, kidney, liver, stomach, pancreas, colon and rectum, and cervis, as well as acute myeloid leukemia. Second-hand smoke also increases health risks to non-smokers. The best way to cut back or quit is through support and medication.

If you are a tobacco user and have cancer, please visit the Commercial Tobacco Users with Cancer section for specific support and medication options.

Support for Commercial Tobacco Users

You can find support by talking to:

  • The Mobile Cancer Screening Coach: Speak with a registered nurse to discuss support with quitting. Receive 2-4 weeks of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) to get started.
  • Quit Coach at Smokers Helpline
  • Your primary care provider
  • Your local public health unit
  • Health811: Connect with a registered nurse for free, secure, and confidential health advice. For telephone-based smoking cessation support, information, and advice available 24/7, call toll-free at 1-866-797-0000 or toll-free TTY at 1-866-797-0007. You can also call the number on your cigarette pack.

Medication for Commercial Tobacco Users

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
NRT helps reduce nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms, making it easier to quit. It is available in various forms, such as patches, gum, lozenges, mouth spray, and inhalers, and can be purchased without a prescription from pharmacies and some stores. If cost is a concern, contact your healthcare provider, local public health unit, or Telehealth Ontario (1-866-797-0000 or TTY at 1-866-797-0007) to explore financial assistance programs.

NRT generally costs less than cigarettes, and some insurance or benefit plans (such as the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program for First Nations and Inuit) may cover the cost.

Prescription Medications
There are two prescription medications available to help reduce nicotine cravings and prevent relapse:

  • Varenicline (Champix*)
  • Bupropion (Zyban*)

These medications require a prescription from a doctor, nurse practitioner, or pharmacist. You may be eligible to receive these medications at no cost if you qualify for the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) plan or the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Program for First Nations and Inuit.

For additional support, contact:

  • Smokers’ Helpline (online, and text messaging support) at smokershelpline.ca.
  • Use the Community Service Locator at csl.cancer.ca to find other local services (search for “tobacco”).

Talk to your healthcare provider to see if these medications may be helpful for you. Pairing them with support increases your chances of success.

A cancer diagnosis is a difficult and stressful journey. If you are a tobacco user, you may feel it’s too late to cut back or quit, but it’s never too late. Quitting or cutting back can help improve your treatment, recovery, and overall health, which may also help reduce stress and anxiety.

Cutting back or quitting can:

  • Help your treatment work better: Whether you’re undergoing surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, quitting can improve the effectiveness of your treatment.
  • Reduce the chance of cancer recurrence: Lowering your tobacco use can help prevent cancer from coming back.
  • Reduce the risk of developing another cancer.

How smoking affects treatment:

  • Radiation Therapy: Smoking lowers oxygen levels in your blood, which can make radiation less effective. If you can’t quit, avoid smoking before and after your radiation sessions.
  • Chemotherapy: Smoking reduces the blood levels of some chemotherapy drugs, making them less effective.
  • Surgery: Quitting smoking, especially 6 to 8 weeks before surgery, can make surgery safer and aid in faster recovery. Non-smokers tend to have fewer complications, quicker healing, and shorter hospital stays.

Support for Commercial Tobacco Users with Cancer

You can find support by talking to:

  • A member of your Juravinski Cancer Centre (JCC) healthcare team, where cancer patients can receive two weeks of free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) through the JCC Retail Pharmacy.
  • Your family doctor or nurse practitioner.
  • Your local public health unit.
  • Telehealth Ontario: For telephone-based smoking cessation support, information, and advice, call 1-866-797-0000 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Quit Coach at Smokers’ Helpline: Offers phone, online, and text messaging support through smokershelpline.ca.
  • Community Service Locator: Visit csl.cancer.ca and type “tobacco” in the search bar to find resources in your area.

Pairing support with medication triples your chance of successfully cutting back or quitting.

Medication for Commercial Tobacco Users with Cancer

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
NRT is available in various forms, such as patches, gum, lozenges, mouth spray, and inhalers. It helps reduce nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms, improving your chances of quitting. NRT is sold in pharmacies and stores without a prescription. If cost is a concern, contact your healthcare provider, local public health unit, or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007) to find programs that can assist you.

NRT generally costs less than cigarettes, and some private insurance or benefit plans (such as the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program for First Nations and Inuit) may cover the cost.

Non-Nicotine Prescription Medications
Two prescription drugs can help reduce nicotine cravings and prevent relapse:

  • Varenicline (Champix*)
  • Bupropion (Zyban*)

These medications require a prescription from a doctor, nurse practitioner, or pharmacist. If eligible, you may receive these medications at no cost through the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) plan or the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Program for First Nations and Inuit.

To explore available resources, visit the Community Service Locator at csl.cancer.ca and type “tobacco” into the search bar to find services in your area.

Talk to your healthcare provider to see if these medications may be helpful for you. Pairing support with medication triples your chance of success.