Quit smoking
About 1 in 5 cancer deaths in Australia can be attributed to smoking. More than 10,000 Australians are diagnosed with a smoking-related cancer each year.
Lung cancer is the most common form of cancer caused by smoking – more than 80% of lung cancer cases are caused by it.
Smoking also causes cancer of the larynx, oropharynx, bladder, mouth, lip, tongue, nose, nasal sinus, cervix, ureter, bone marrow (myeloid leukaemia), pancreas and stomach.
There are associations between smoking and colorectal and liver cancers.
Cancerous chemicals
Smoke contains over 60 chemicals known to cause cancer. Certain chemicals in tobacco smoke damage an important gene called p53. The p53 gene is found in the nucleus of every cell in the human body, and its main role is to prevent cancer cells evolving. Cigarette smoke is the main cause of p53 mutations in lung cancer.
Quitting
The good news is that it's never too late to stop smoking. The younger you are, and the sooner you stop, the better. Even smokers who quit at the age of 60 can reduce their chance of getting cancer and other diseases.
Call the Quitline 13 7848
Ask for a free Quit pack to be mailed to you. Or a trained Quitline adviser can help you with practical and expert advice.
Visit the Quit website for a range of ways you can quit smoking.
Join the QuitCoach: The QuitCoach asks you questions and uses your answers to give advice that's suited to you. Each time you visit the site, your latest answers are used, together with answers from your previous visits, to give you advice that takes into account any changes you've made.
Avoid secondhand smoke
Even if you don’t smoke, breathing in other people’s cigarette smoke can increase your risk of cancer. Make sure that you and your family are smokefree.
Tips:
- Be a smokefree role model for others.
- Tell people if their smoke bothers you.
- Make your home and car smokefree.
- Choose venues with a smokefree outdoor area.
Blog update
2013-05-21
As the darker, colder winter weather creeps in, it has never become more important for Australians to start thinking about their vitamin D intake.
