November is Great American Smokout Month

The American Cancer Society is marking the 36th Great American Smokeout on November 17 by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. By doing so, smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life – one that can lead to reducing cancer risk. Quitting smoking is not easy, but it can be done. To have the best chance of quitting successfully, you need to know what you're up against, what your options are, and where to go for help.

Quitting smoking is one of the most important steps you can take to help create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

The federal government has taken a tougher stance against tobacco over the past couple of years, banning certain products and marketing tactics, and increasing regulation. It’s an important step toward helping people break a habit with devastating health effects.

These recent developments – and the wide range of tools available to help people stop smoking – mean there has never been a better time to quit. Fewer people smoking can mean a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the US, yet an estimated 46.6 million Americans still smoke. However, more than half of these smokers have attempted to quit for at least one day in the past year. If you or someone you know needs help quitting, join thousands of people across the country in making November 17 the day you make a plan to quit for good, during the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout®.

Quitting is hard, but you can increase your chances of success with help. The American Cancer Society can tell you about the steps you can take to quit smoking and provide the resources and support that can increase your chances of quitting successfully. To learn about the available tools, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345. You can also find free tips and tools online at cancer.org/smokeout. The Society also offers applications on online social networks like Facebook to help you quit or join the fight against tobacco.

Every day, the American Cancer Society is working to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays– and by quitting smoking, you can take one of the most important steps toward helping make this world a reality. Depending on the age at which they quit, ex-smokers can add up to 9 or 10 more birthdays to their lives. Younger quitters can add more years of life, but nearly everyone who quits adds to their lifespan – and improves quality of life. Overall, one-third of cancer deaths could be prevented if people avoided tobacco products.

While we have made great progress to fight tobacco, there is still much work to do. Everyone can fight back to save lives, and the Great American Smokeout is a great time to start. If you want to quit smoking or help a loved one quit, the American Cancer Society is in your corner. Together, we can save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Join us for the Great American Smokeout, and make November 17 the day you plan to quit for good. For tips on the steps you can take to quit smoking or get involved in the fight against tobacco, visit www.cancer.org/smokeout or call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345.