In addition to being the main cause of lung cancer, smoking can complicate lung cancer surgery. Tiny, hair-like cells called cilia line our windpipes, and their main job is to sweep mucus out of the lungs. Smoking paralyzes these cells, and the inability to clear this mucus effectively is why smokers often develop that telltale hacking cough. During lung cancer surgery, these secretions can get caught in your lung and increase your risk for developing pneumonia, a potentially fatal complication.
“Just stopping smoking even for a couple weeks before surgery will increase your safety,” says Dr. Joseph Friedberg, thoracic surgeon-in-chief at Temple University Health System.
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