Cancer Research UK Reports Alarming Statistics
Cancer cases caused by smoking are at an all-time high in the UK, with Cancer Research UK revealing that 160 people are diagnosed per day, totaling nearly 58,000 cases per year.
Smoking Blamed for One in Seven Cancer Cases
Fags are identified as the leading cause of cancer in Britain, contributing to one in seven cases. Despite declining smoking rates, a combination of a growing population and past damage continues to drive the rise in smoking-related diseases.
Health Charities Push for Total Smoking Ban
Health charities are urging the new Labour Government to uphold Rishi Sunak's commitment to implement a total smoking ban. Dr. Ian Walker, policy director at Cancer Research UK, emphasized the urgent need for action, stating that six people are diagnosed every hour in the UK with smoking-related cancer.
Smoking Remains UK's Top Cancer Culprit
Karis Betts, an epidemiologist at the charity, highlighted that smoking remains the primary cause of cancer in the UK, responsible for 16 different types of the disease. The charity estimates a significant increase in smoking-related cancer cases, with 57,555 diagnoses in 2023.
Call for Action to Create a Smoke-Free Country
A letter signed by 35 health experts and charities, including Cancer Research UK, will be sent to the new Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, urging the government to take decisive action to end smoking. The open letter, published in the British Medical Journal, advocates for measures to prevent children born after 2009 from ever being able to purchase tobacco.
Government's Commitment to a Smoke-Free Future
Health Secretary Wes Streeting, a cancer survivor himself, expressed a personal commitment to reducing the number of people affected by the disease. He emphasized the government's focus on prevention over treatment and pledged to work towards creating a smoke-free country where the next generation is safeguarded from the harms of smoking.
