Hard-hitting campaign highlights 16 cancers linked to smoking

Every month 17 people from North Lincolnshire discover they have cancer caused by smoking and 11 people die from a smoking related cancer.
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While most smokers know about the link between smoking and lung cancer, many people do not realise that smoking is linked with not one but 16 different cancers including cancers of the mouth, nasal cavities, pharynx and larynx, stomach, kidney, bowel, liver, pancreas, ureter, oesophagus, cervix, bladder and ovaries as well as myeloid leukaemia.

Quit16 is a hard-hitting campaign that highlights the 16 cancers associated with smoking and asks people to quit. It is the first region-wide anti-smoking campaign that includes advertising on television and online, by local tobacco control alliances, collaborating as Breathe 2025, and supported by Cancer Research UK.

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It is based on a campaign first developed and run in Australia in 2014 by the Cancer Council Western Australia, with 74 per cent of smokers who saw it seriously considering quitting and 20 per cent discussing quitting with a health professional as a result.

Yorkshire and Humber has the highest adult smoking rates in the country, with 20 per cent of adults still smoking.

Councillor Rob Waltham, cabinet member for Health, Strategic Projects and Regeneration, said: “We want everyone to be aware that there are 16 cancers caused by smoking. Some will kill you quickly, others more slowly and it’s you and your family that have to live through it. Stopping smoking is the best thing you can do to reduce the risk that one of those deaths will be you.

“Quitting isn’t easy but there is lots of help out there from face-to-face support to personalised texts, emails and apps. You can find out details of support near you on the Quit16 website.

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“We want to make sure the next generation of children born and brought up in North Lincolnshire never start smoking and grow up free of the terrible health harms associated with tobacco. If you smoke, trying to quit is a great way to help make that happen.”

Dr Louise Merriman, the GP cancer lead at the Yorkshire and Humber Strategic Clinical Network, said:

“Most people are aware that smoking can cause lung cancer, but there is a huge lack of general awareness about the true health harms of smoking. People who smoke are at an increased risk of a range of cancers and you’re also more likely to have a stroke, a heart attack, and develop different health conditions including coronary heart disease.

“We want to encourage all smokers out there to find out more about quitting. Your GP can give you lots of advice and information and there are a range of resources available to help you.”

The campaign launched on Monday February 1, runs throughout the month. Visit the Quit16 website for further details, Click here