Take every opportunity to quit smoking when you can – and don’t wait
BRAVE cancer survivors in the North East are encouraging people to put smoking behind them for the 40th anniversary of No Smoking Day (March 13).
Cathy Hunt and Sue Mountain are two former smokers who were diagnosed with cancer while still in their 40s, experiencing painful and life changing surgery, having to tell their children they had cancer, and years of worry.
As well as urging people across the region to reach out to get support to stop, Cathy is urging the Government to bring forward legislation in Parliament to create a “smokefree generation” by raising the age of smoking by a year every year.
Cathy and Sue’s emotional plea has been featured widely on TV adverts, radio and billboards across the North East and North Cumbria with the latest campaign launched in the run up to No Smoking Day 2024. The campaign from Fresh is part of a commitment by all 12 local authorities in the region and the North East and North Cumbria NHS Integrated Care Board to reduce smoking – the leading cause of health inequalities, and the biggest cause of cancer and preventable deaths.
One in four (26%) smokers who saw or heard “Smoking Survivors” cut down, 9% said they tried to quit and 7% switched to vaping. People who want to quit can find tips, advice, free online tools and free local support at the regional quit smoking support website FreshQuit.co.uk
Cathy Hunt from County Durham, had half a lung removed when she was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2015. She underwent surgery again last year when the cancer returned and also had a kidney removed after she was diagnosed with kidney cancer. She said: “If you smoke, take every opportunity to try to quit whenever you can, and get all the support you need. If seeing my film saves one life or puts somebody off smoking it will be worth it.
“Believe me – you will look back on those big moments like all the important birthdays, all the New Years and all the No Smoking Days and wish you had stopped sooner. Don’t ever think like me it won’t happen to you.
“This is a huge year, when the government has said it will raise the age of sale and create a smokefree generation. It can’t come soon enough, to stop kids today becoming lung cancer patients in their 40s and 50s. I think that will also give a lot of parents and grandparents an extra motivation to put smoking behind them as well.
“I am just pleased to get the opportunity to share my story. if it makes just one person stop and consider the harm smoking causes, I will be pleased. Too many people are seriously ill and dying from smoking.”
Cath Haley is 64 and lives in Sunderland. Until last year Cath smoked 20 cigarettes a day for 50 years but has now decided it is time to quit smoking. Cath’s life changed after she saw Cathy’s film on TV.
She said: “The reason I decided to quit was I watched the advert on TV, seeing that woman with terrible scars because of her smoking, and I thought that could be me in the not-too-distant future.
“It put the fear of God into me. That advert made a difference to me. Both my kids work full time and I would worry there would be no-one to look after me.
“I feel 100 times better than when I was smoking, I can breathe better. I also still have money in my bank the day before I get paid. That has never happened, ever. I’m planning a holiday this year with all of my savings.
“If you are struggling, keep trying. You will get there. There is loads of support. If I can do it after 50 years, I’m sure you can.”
Ailsa Rutter OBE, Director of Fresh and Balance, said: “Cathy and Sue are incredibly brave and inspiring people who only want to save lives – we have seen thousands of people cut down, switch and quit smoking as a result of seeing their campaign.
“Tens of thousands of people have quit for No Smoking Day over the four decades it has been inspiring people to stop. Campaigns and key dates like this are important reminders to give people that extra motivation to quit, and to keep going.
“However you quit smoking it’s a good way – whether that’s using a quit aid, getting support or switching to vaping. Easing cravings can take a lot of the stress out of quitting.”
Neil O’Brien, Executive Medical Director for North East North Cumbria NHS ICB, said: “Smoking is still our key driver of health inequalities and the many illnesses smoking causes puts a significant pressure every day on our NHS. As a GP I see first-hand the devastating effects smoking has on the health of my patients and the impact it also has on their loved ones too.
“We know that if we reduce smoking even further, we will not only enable people to live longer healthier lives, but it will have a massive and positive knock-on impact on our regional economy, which in turn will benefit the physical and mental health of our communities too.”
A survey of nearly 800 smokers in the region by Fresh shows that:
- 77% regret they ever started to smoke.
- 46% say they really want to stop smoking.
- 53% are trying to either quit (13%) or cut down (40%).
- 81% want to quit for health and 46% want to also quit for finances.