Smoking Cessation Program Expands Across 27-County Area with Remote Access and Complimentary Medications Provided by Wilmot
In an effort to combat the high rates of lung cancer in rural areas, the Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester Medical Center has launched a unique smoking cessation program. This program combines text-messaging support with free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) medications.
According to research, quitting smoking after a cancer diagnosis can help prolong life and improve quality of life. Smoking is linked with about 80 to 90 percent of lung cancer deaths, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control. The Wilmot Cancer Institute's new program aims to enroll smokers who otherwise would not have access to smoking cessation treatment, especially those living in rural areas or in underserved and uninsured communities.
The program is free and open to anyone over age 18 who smokes and lives within the 27-county catchment area, which has higher rates of lung cancer compared to New York state and the U.S. as a whole. About 19% of the population in the 27-county area smokes, compared to about 14% state-wide in New York.
The program begins with a 60-minute initial assessment by phone with a tobacco treatment specialist. Participants are then asked to select a quit date and are prepared for and supported around that date. The program mails the preferred medication to the participant's home once a quit plan has been developed.
The text-messaging program is automated and customised to the individual quitting. Someone is available to respond to text messages and provide additional help if needed. Participants can enroll in the program by calling (585) 504-9461 or emailing quitcenter@our website.
This program is led by Francisco Cartujano, M.D., who is the Assistant Director of the COE at the Wilmot Cancer Institute. The COE team analysed data around cancer rates and disparities in Wilmot's 27-county catchment area before launching the program.
Text-messaging combined with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is a known effective approach for smoking cessation in general, especially in underserved or rural populations. The Wilmot Cancer Institute's program follows this trend, offering free NRT medications, including patches, gum, or lozenges.
The program is part of the Wilmot Cancer Institute's broader commitment to cancer-related supportive care programs, including encouraging smoking cessation as part of prehabilitation in older cancer patients to improve health outcomes after surgery. Behavioral medicine and cancer health equity research, possibly involving smoking cessation, are also conducted by faculty at the University of Rochester Medical Center, associated with Wilmot.
For those interested in learning more about this program or similar initiatives, it may be beneficial to contact the Institute directly or review their official research and program announcements, as targeted initiatives might be emerging or ongoing with limited public documentation.
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