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 from cancers caused by smoking.
Lung cancer is the most common form of cancer caused by smoking – more than 80% of lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking.
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 over 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.
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 people who quit at the age of 60 can reduce their chance of getting cancer and other diseases.
The best way to stop smoking
- Chat with Quitline: Quitline counsellors can help you break free from smoking or vaping. They can help build your motivation and skills and create a step-by-step plan. They can also support you if you are using vapes to stop smoking. Quitline is free and confidential.
- Use stop-smoking medication: Stop-smoking medication, like the nicotine patch and lozenge, helps you manage feelings of nicotine withdrawal.
- Speak with your doctor (GP): Your GP can discuss your options and give you a script for cheaper stop smoking medication.
Ways to get in touch with Quitline
There are many ways to contact Quitline, including by phone on 13 7848, the online ‘request a callback’ form, webchat, WhatsApp and more.
Contact Quitline
Other tools to help you quit
Visit the Quit website
Make your own plan to quit smoking or vaping with easy-to-find information suited to you. No matter how many times you’ve tried to quit, quit.org.au has tools and resources to help.
Check out the My QuitBuddy app
My QuitBuddy is a motivational app that helps you break free from smoking and vaping and stay quit. It provides helpful tips and distractions to overcome your cravings and tracking systems to chart your progress. My QuitBuddy gives you the facts you need to understand the impacts smoking and vaping have on your health.
Avoid secondhand 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 secondhand smoke or vape aerosol. Make sure that you and your family live smoke and vape-free.
Tips:
- 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.
Concerned about a young person and vaping?
Find out about how vaping products are harmful to health, and how to discuss the issue with young people in your life.
Visit Get the Facts on Vaping