In today's Health Matters, doctors say smoking is such an addictive habit that many people still light up, even when they're seriously ill.

According to new data, published in the online version of the journal, cancer researchers have found a large number of colon and lung cancer patients did not give up smoking, even though they knew it was not good for them.

According to physicians, giving up tobacco is crucial after a cancer diagnosis because smoking can hinder treatment results.

Doctors noted lung cancer patients who still lit up after a diagnosis were usually on medicare, had had very little treatment for their condition and were heavy smokers before their diagnosis .

By using this data, researchers hope they can guide oncologists to identify continuous smokers, so doctors can help patients stay smoke free.