The role of the urologist in smoking cessation: why is it important?

Abstract

Introduction: Tobacco use is the most preventable cause of death in the world today. Smoking is a well-known risk factor for various cancers, including urothelial carcinoma, and bladder cancer (BCa) is a leading global cause of cancer mortality in men.

Objective: To review the epidemiology of BCa as a tobacco-related disease, the association between smoking and BCa risk, and the potential smoking cessation interventions that urologists can perform in their medical practice.

Methods: A search of recent literature was conducted using the MEDLINE database and the Internet, as well as resources from well-known health, cancer, and tobacco control organizations.

Results: Smoking is well described as a risk factor of BCa. The risk correlates with the number of cigarettes smoked daily and the duration of smoking. Moreover, smoking worsens BCa treatment outcomes and prognosis. However, smoking cessation substantially prolongs life at every stage, and brief medical interventions can be performed by urologists that can result in the patient ceasing to smoke. Patient education is critical, especially if the patient is unaware that smoking increases the risk of BCa.

Conclusion: Urologists may play an essential role in helping their patients cease smoking, subsequently decreasing the smoking-related risk of BCa. Their cessation efforts should be focused on brief interventions and collaboration with specialized smoking cessation resources.

Keywords: Bladder cancer; Brief intervention; Smoking; Smoking cessation.