NELFT is urging people to stop smoking on world lung cancer day by highlighting ways in which you can receive help to stop smoking.

One in four cancer deaths are from lung cancer and approximately 40,000 cases of lung cancer are diagnosed every year.

However long you have been smoking, it's always worth quitting. Every year you do not smoke decreases your risk of getting serious illnesses, such as lung cancer.

After 12 years of not smoking, your chance of developing lung cancer falls to more than half that of someone who smokes. After 15 years, your chances of getting lung cancer are almost the same as someone who has never smoked.

It’s a challenge to stop smoking, especially if you have been smoking for a while.

For some people, a big reason for stopping smoking is to be there for their family and friends. If you have stopped smoking and are physically and mentally healthy, you're more likely to be able to support your loved ones – and be a part of their life in the future.

Also, becoming a smoke-free role model means your children are much less likely to take up smoking. Teens whose parents or caregivers smoke are 4 times as likely to take up smoking.

Support starts from your friends and family.

• Tell the people around you and that you care about that you are quitting – they can be there to help and support you.
• Ask family and friends who smoke not to do so around you – explain you won’t be joining them on any smoke breaks. If you can, ask them to stop with you and to get in touch with their healthcare professionals to make their own quit plan.

Stopping smoking can be hard, but you don’t have to do this on your own. You are three times as likely to quit successfully with your local stop smoking service than if try to stop smoking on your own.

Many London boroughs have dedicated stop smoking teams waiting to help you reach your stop smoking goals. A GP or pharmacist can also give you advice about stopping smoking.

The table below contains information about services in local areas. If you would rather do this over the phone, call the free Stop Smoking London helpline on 0300 123 1044 to find out how you can get a personalised plan and ongoing telephone support.

 

Information about Services in Local Areas

Borough	Service Name	Website
Barking & Dagenham	Council in-house branded Community Solutions	lbbd.gov.uk/newme-healthy-lifestyle
Hackney (& City)	Smokefree City & Hackney	https://www.smokefreehackney.org
Newham	QMUL - Quit Well	www.newham.gov.uk/stopsmoking
Tower Hamlets	QMUL - Quit Right	http://quitrightth.org/
Waltham Forest	QMUL - Quit Right	https://quitrightwf.org/
Essex Wellbeing service	Essex	https://www.essexwellbeingservice.co.uk/volunteering/support-referral
Southend	Southend	Stop smoking services in Southend-on-Sea – Southend-on-Sea City Council
Thurrock	Thurrock	Thurrock Healthy Lifestyle Service | Public Health | Thurrock Council

For more information, visit Stop Smoking London - We're Here to Help You Quit Smoking