Smoking rates dropping, but lung cancer deaths still leading cause of cancer death

Toronto, ON 18 Jan 07 - Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women. Approximately 23,000 Canadians were diagnosed with lung cancer last year and over 19,300 died from the disease.

"The good news is that the latest tobacco use statistics from Health Canada show a continuing downward trend in smoking among Canadians 15 and older," says Heather Logan, Director, Cancer Control Policy, Canadian Cancer Society. "The bad news is that lung cancer continues to take a huge toll on Canadians. Through our advocacy, education and quit-smoking programs we hope to see these rates continue to drop."

The Canadian Cancer Society leads the fight against tobacco and our collective efforts across Canada are making a difference:

Advocacy: Our advocacy efforts have ensured the implementation of strong effective, tobacco control legislation and policies at all levels of government.

Helping smokers quit: Developed with input from smokers who have successfully quit, the Canadian Cancer Society offers an innovative step-by-step self-help quit program – called One Step at a Time – for smokers and those who care about them. Watch for the launch of our revised One Step at a Time material later this year.

Smokers' Helplines: Available across Canada, a free, confidential telephone support service for smokers trying to quit and the people who support them.

Research: Every year the Canadian Cancer Society encourages and funds research that will help to control tobacco use.   The Society was a founding partner of the Canadian Tobacco Control Research Initiative, which funds tobacco control research in Canada. The Society provides $500,000 annually to this initiative.

Information: We provide Canadians with up-to-date comprehensive information about tobacco, smoking, lung cancer prevention and treatment. We supply this information through print material, our website and our Cancer Information Service.

During National Non-Smoking Week Canadian Cancer Society volunteers and staff will be working coast to coast to promote awareness about important tobacco issues and to encourage Canadians to not smoke or to quit.

Backgrounder; Stats and Research

 The Canadian Cancer Society is a national community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is to eradicate cancer and to enhance the quality of life of people living with cancer. When you want to know more about cancer, visit our website www.cancer.ca or call our toll-free, bilingual Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333.