Tobacco Cessation | UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

Stopping tobacco, even after a cancer diagnosis, is one of the best things you can do to beat cancer. Within minutes of stopping tobacco, the health of your heart and lungs start to improve. Stopping tobacco during your cancer care:

• Helps your body to heal from surgery or radiation      
• Allows your cancer medications to work better
• Reduces the risk of infection
• Can help prevent a second or recurrent cancer    
• Improves your quality of life and overall survival

Our Stop Tobacco Program (SToP) and Kick It California offer coaching and medication to help you quit tobacco. We collaborate with your healthcare providers to support your success, drawing on our experience of assisting hundreds of patients in overcoming nicotine addiction.

Our free services are designed to help you stop smoking, vaping, or using tobacco products.

Our Stop Tobacco Team is a key reason why the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center offers outstanding cancer care. We know that stopping tobacco use can improve cancer outcomes and survival.”—Primo “Lucky” Lara Jr. M.D. Director, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

Stop Tobacco Program

• Consult with tobacco treatment specialists trained about cancer care
• Group classes (online, check if in-person)
• Medication management and assistance with coverage
• Outreach support for patients, caregivers, and household members

Kick It California

• Coaching provided during a 20–30-minute telephone session and follow-up calls
• Online resources to support your quit attempt
• Available for teens 13+ years old without parental permission

It’s never too late to stop! Call the SToP team at 916-734-0718 to start getting the help you need. Our SToP team and/or Kick It California will reach out to support you. If referring a patient, UC Davis Health providers or staff can submit a referral for “Tobacco Cessation, Consult and Education” through the patient's chart.

Our Clinical Team

Every time you try to stop tobacco makes it easier to stop for good.”—Dr. Elisa Tong, Medical Director, SToP

Our free program can support patients on their journey to beat nicotine addiction and cancer.”—Cari Shulkin, Tobacco Treatment Specialist Nurse, SToP