Published on: 17 June 2019
The NHS in South Tyneside and Sunderland is backing NHS North of England Cancer Alliances’ new campaign which is raising awareness of the links between smoking and 16 types of cancer. The key message is: ‘Smoking causes 16 cancers. If one doesn’t kill you…it could change your life. Quitting is the one clear way to reduce your risk’.
In support of the campaign, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust and NHS South Tyneside and Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Groups are encouraging local smokers who have not already done so to make a quit attempt and those who have given up to continue in their efforts.
The 16 cancers are lung, bladder, mouth, nasal cavities, pharynx and larynx, stomach, kidney, bowel, liver, pancreas, cervix, and ovaries, oesophagus and ureter, and myeloid leukaemia. Whilst there are many other causes of cancer and treatment for cancer has improved enormously, smoking greatly increase the chances of cancer developing and this can be at a relatively young age - in your 40s and 50s.
Melanie Robertson, Cancer Lead Clinician for South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said: “More than 1 in 4 cancer deaths in the UK are caused by smoking. Most of us know about the link between smoking and lung cancer but fewer people are aware that smoking causes 15 other types of cancer. And, for every death caused by smoking, approximately 20 smokers are suffering from a smoking-related disease.
“Every cigarette pumps thousands of harmful chemicals into your lungs which spread around your body. Many of these are known to damage DNA - including genes that protect us against cancer - stick to cells, harm cell repair and cause cancer. These chemicals also interfere with the body’s ability to repair damaged DNA, making it even more likely that damaged cells will eventually turn cancerous.”
Dr Matthew Walmsley, a local GP and Chair of NHS South Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “Smoking causes so many diseases, including heart disease as well as cancer, but the good news is that there is plenty of support to help you quit – and you are much more likely to succeed with support and stop smoking aids.”
Dr Ian Pattison, a local GP and Chair of NHS Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “Around 178,000 people are hospitalised every year in the north of England due to smoking, but the good news is that there is plenty of support to help you quit – and you are much more likely to succeed with support.”
For support and advice on quitting smoking in South Tyneside, call the South Tyneside Stop Smoking service on 0191 424 7300 or visit www.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/35947/Stop-smoking ; for Sunderland call 0800 169 9913/ 0191 5671057 or visit www.northumbria.nhs.uk/stopsmoking
Smoking can also be an expensive habit. On average, smokers can expect to save up to £3,000 a year by quitting. Use the NHS quit cost calculator to work out how much money you could save https://www.nhs.uk/smokefree/why-quit/cost-calculator
For more information about the ‘Smoking causes 16 different types of cancer’ campaign go to http://quit16.co.uk/
