Tobacco Use – OnCare Cancer Center Tobacco Use

Tobacco Use

According to the World Health Organization, tobacco use kills more than 5 million people per year. It is responsible for 1 in 10 adult deaths. Among the five greatest risk factors for mortality, it is the single most preventable cause of death.

Using tobacco products or regularly being around tobacco smoke (environmental or second-hand smoke) increases your risk of cancer. People who smoke are more likely than non-smokers to develop the following cancers: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (cancer of the blood), Bladder, Breast, Cervix, Esophagus, Kidney, Larynx (voice box), Lung, Mouth, Pancreas, Stomach, and Throat. People who use smokeless tobacco (snuff or chewing tobacco) are at increased risk of cancer of the mouth.

Quitting is important for anyone who uses tobacco - even people who have used it for many years. The risk of cancer for people who quit is lower than the risk for people who continue to use tobacco. (But the risk of cancer is lowest among those who never used tobacco.)
For people who have already had cancer, quitting may reduce the chance of getting another cancer. There are many resources to help people stop using tobacco.

Decrease Your Risk

An updated list of smoking cessation programs to help you quit:

1.Visit the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health website at http://www.smokefree.hkor call 2185-6399 for latest details.

2.Smoking Cessation Clinics run by the Department of Health:

Education and Training Center in Family Medicine. For enquiry or appointment, please call the Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline of DH at 1833-183 (press 1).

Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Integrated Centre on Smoking Cessation. For enquiry or appointment, please call the Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline of DH at 1833-183 (press 2).

Hospital Authority Smoking Cessation and Counseling Centers. For enquiry or appointment, please call the Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline of DH at 1833-183 (press 3) or Quitline: 2300-7272.

Pok Oi Smoking Cessation Service using Traditional Chinese Medicine. For enquiry or appointment, please call the Integrated Smoking Cessation Hotline of DH at 1833-183 (press 4) or Hotline: 2607-1222.

3.Some private doctors and private hospitals also provide smoking cessation services that smokers may join. Doctors and dentists can suggest medicine or nicotine replacement therapy, such as a patch, gum, lozenge, nasal spray, or inhaler.