Never-smokers with early stage lung cancer have significantly better survival than smokers with the disease.
Researchers from the University of Alabama compared survival rates among 562 smokers and 168 never-smokers, all of whom had non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The overall 5-year survival rate was greater in never-smokers (64%) compared with smokers (56%). Patients with more than a 20 pack-year smoking history had the worst survival.The stage-specific 5-year survival rates were: stage I disease (75%-non smokers vs 62%-smokers, respectively; p = 0.02), stage II disease (53% vs 46%, p = 0.09), and stage III disease (41% vs 36%, p = 0.13).
Researchers conclude that smoking not only causes lung cancer, but once a patient develops cancer, smoking makes the prognosis worse.
Bryant A, Cerfolio RJ.
Differences in Epidemiology, Histology, and Survival Between Cigarette Smokers and Never-Smokers Who Develop Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Chest 2007 Jul;132:185-192. [Abstract]