Reducing stigma triggered by assessing smoking status among patients diagnosed with lung cancer: De-stigmatizing do and don't lessons learned from qualitative interviews

•Stigma is commonly experienced by patients diagnosed with lung cancer in the context of routine cancer care•Stigma is often triggered by cancer care providers' routine assessment of smoking•Cancer care providers miss opportunities for empathic communication•Assessment and treatment of tobacco dependence should be done with empathy, and compassion.•Qualitative interviews revealed patient preferences for patient-provider communication about smoking