Quit smoking
Okay, so we all know we should eat less, exercise more, and give up bad habits like drinking too much and smoking. But what if you knew these changes could cut your cancer risk by more than one third? Get to know the magnificent 7 healthy habits to cut your cancer risk.
Quit smoking
It is never too late to quit smoking, and the sooner you quit, the more you cut your risk of cancer.
It is also important to avoid secondhand tobacco smoke. Even if you don't smoke, breathing in other people's cigarette smoke can increase your risk of cancer. The good news is that by law, all Victorian bars and clubs are now smokefree, as well as the indoor areas of restaurants and workplaces.
About one in five deaths from cancer are due to smoking. Smoking causes cancer of the lung, larynx, throat, mouth, nose, ovary, bowel, ureter, bladder, liver, kidney, oesophagus, pancreas, tongue, cervix, bone marrow (myeloid leukaemia) and stomach. More than 10,000 Australians are diagnosed with a smoking-related cancer every year.
Tips:
- Call the Quitline on 13 7848 (13 QUIT) and ask for a free Quit pack. A trained Quitline advisor can also help you with practical and expert advice.
- Visit the Quit website for advice and information on quitting. You can also use the Quit Coach, an Internet coach that can advise you based on your own situation.
- People who have the best chance of quitting are those who get some coaching and use quitting medications. Practice saying, ‘thanks, but I don't smoke', in case you're offered a cigarette.
- Think of yourself as a non-smoker.