Breaking the link between smoking and lung cancer: Support for prevention and pain relief

As the weather turns colder, many people notice their breathing feels a little heavier and chest discomfort rises. For people with smoking habits, these seasonal changes can make the already existing symptoms even harder. As irritation increases, cough worsens, and the lungs struggle more. These factors make the colder months an important time for them to focus more on lung health.

Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer deaths worldwide accounting for approximately 85% of all cases. In India, almost 100 million adults smoke, with around 71. 8 million smoking bidis and 37.5 million smoking cigarettes making it one of the largest contributors to tobacco use. Every time someone smokes, their lungs take in harmful nicotine substances that slowly wear them down, increasing the chance of serious illnesses over time. Yet quitting is not as easy as simply deciding to stop. Tobacco affects both the mind and body; even those who genuinely wish to quit end up falling back into the cycle again. Cravings, routine, and the comfort of smoking pull people back into the habit again and again. Many describe it as a quiet, constant battle between wanting to quit, and the urge that simply refuses to help achieve that goal.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT), like gums and patches, can play an important role in quitting easier. These alternatives provide a mild, consistent dose of safer nicotine to the body without exposing the lungs to smoke or its associated toxic chemicals. NRT makes quitting feel a bit easier and less daunting by lowering cravings and easing withdrawal symptoms.
With 267 million tobacco users in India, there’s a huge population that could benefit from this kind of support, especially in the colder months when stress and breathing issues often lead people to smoke more.

For people already battling lung cancer, the challenge is different but equally important. Pain can be one of the most difficult parts of their journey, and both tobacco dependence and sudden nicotine withdrawal can make pain feel worse. For people who still regularly smoke, NRT can also help reduce withdrawal related discomfort, which otherwise intensifies pain and makes symptom management more difficult. These points reflect two areas routinely considered in clinical practice: facilitating tobacco cessation and addressing cancer-related pain. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is among the strategies used to support smoking-cessation efforts, while analgesics such as buprenorphine may be used in managing pain in advanced illness.
Putting everything together makes one thing clear: helping people quit smoking and helping cancer patients deal with pain are both important steps towards making life better. NRT helps smokers lower their risk and work toward a healthier future, while Buprenorphine gives people who are already sick the much needed relief and restores their dignity. Every effort toward better health brings someone closer to easier breathing and better days. Talk to your doctor to explore the treatment options that may help.
Dr Awantash. R. Tripathi, Chest and Critical Care Physician and Interventional Bronchoscopist, P.D. Hinduja National Hospital & Medical Research Centre