Just 15 cigarettes can lead to dangerous cancer tumours

With more than a third of smokers thinking that the health risks associated with smoking are greatly exaggerated a new stop smoking campaign has recently been launched featuring a tumour growing on a cigarette as it is smoked.

Designed to show that every cigarette is potentially harmful, the campaign sends a tough message about the dangers of smoking to a new generation of young people – many who will never have seen such a hard-hitting message since they took up the habit.

Tobacco, which is a lethal product, is highly addictive and kills half of all long time smokers. Tobacco smoke contains around 4000 chemicals, including more than 50 known cancer causing substances and is responsible for many serious and fatal diseases, including lung cancer, coronary heart disease, bronchitis and emphysema.

Tony Collins, Deputy Director of Public Health said:

“It is extremely worrying that people still underestimate the serious health harms associated with smoking. Smokers need to understand that each packet of cigarettes increases their risk of cancer. More than 570,000 people are estimated to have died because of a smoking related condition since 2004 – that’s 195 people each day.”

Giving up smoking can be extremely difficult but local people can get help and support from the Dudley Stop Smoking Service which offers a combination of friendly expert advice, behavioural support and access on prescription to treatments such as Champix or nicotine patches or gum.  This NHS service has specialist advisors based throughout the borough offering one-to-one support in local pharmacies and GP surgeries and group support at eight dedicated stop smoking groups.

For further information smokers should contact the Dudley Stop Smoking Service on 0800 0850 652, text CAN to 80800 or visit www.dudleystopsmoking.co.uk