University of South Florida researchers have
concluded that while nicotine does not
cause cancer, it does have the ability to protect cancer cells from some of the effects of chemotherapy drugs.
However, these results are based solely on laboratory studies, with no clinical trials involving lung cancer patients.
Which basically means, that the results occurring in a test-tube setting might, or might not, translate the same into real life. For lung cancer patients who smoke, it is best to quit. If smokers can go without nicotine replacement, such as the patch or gum, that is best. But short of that, if smokers can quit smoking and need a nicotine patch or gum to be successful in remaining smoke-free, I do not believe any doctor or healthcare professional is going to dare suggest that lung cancer patients do not use the patch or gum.
