Tobacco smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable early death and disease in Australia. In 2024, Australians lost almost 150,000 years of healthy life due to cancers caused by smoking.
Lung cancer is the most common smoking-related cancer – over 80% of lung cancer deaths are directly linked to tobacco use.
Smoking also causes cancer of the voice box, throat, bladder, mouth, tongue, nose, nasal sinus, oesophagus, ovary, cervix, ureter, bone marrow (myeloid leukaemia), pancreas, stomach, liver and bowel.
How does smoking cause cancer?
Smoke contains around 70 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. The number of p53 mutations rise with the number of cigarettes smoked, increasing the likelihood of lung cancer.
To learn more about how smoking affects your body and to get free tools, information and support to quit, visit quit.org.au.
Quitting smoking
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 people who quit at the age of 60 can reduce their chance of getting cancer and other diseases.
5 top tips to help you quit smoking
- Chat with Quitline: Quitline is a warm, welcoming, confidential and free counselling service to help you quit smoking or vaping. Quitline counsellors will help motivate you, build your quit plan, provide tips and so much more. See the many ways you can get in touch with Quitline, including by phone 13 7848, WhatsApp, webchat and more.
- Visit quit.org.au: quit.org.au has articles, toools, resources and inspiring real-life stories to help you quit. You can also:
- Try the My QuitBuddy app: My QuitBuddy is a free app that helps you get, and stay, smoke-free and vape-free. It provides helpful tips and distractions to overcome cravings and tracking systems to chart your progress. Learm more about My QuitBuddy app.
- Use nicotine replacement therapy (NRT): Nicotine replacement therapy, like the nicotine patch and lozenge, can help you manage feelings of nicotine withdrawal. Learn more about how NRT can help.
- Speak with your doctor (GP): Your GP can talk to you about the best way for you to quit. They can also give you scripts for cheaper NRT.
Avoid second-hand smoke and vape aerosol
Even if you don’t smoke, breathing in other people’s cigarette smoke can increase your risk of cancer. Both smoking and vaping exposes those nearby to the chemicals in second-hand smoke or vape aerosol. Make sure that you and your family live smoke and vape-free.
Tips
- It's OK to respectfully tell people if their smoking or vaping bothers you.
- Make your home and car smoke and vape-free.
- Choose venues with a smoke and vape-free outdoor area.