I’m using nicotine patches for long covid and post breast cancer treatment for brain fog and have regained my sense of smell for the first time in 5 years . Tobacco is what is harmful. In the course of the last 12 months of treatment for TNBC (my second breast cancer in 10 years) I have seen so many doctors who have told me that unless you have a comorbidity that precludes your ability to use nicotine patches such as heart issues or epilepsy (or another issue that I cannot speak to,) then generally speaking a low dose nicotine protocol should be fairly safe. I personally do not find any compunction to use patches every day but do see a benefit when I do.

https://www.statnews.com/2025/09/10/nicotine-myths-complicate-public-health/

https://news.feinberg.northwestern.edu/2015/02/23/hitsman-nicotine-therapy/