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Smoking causes 150 cancer cases every single day in UK, study finds
Smoking causes 150 cancer cases every day in the UK alone, according to a new study.
Tobacco smoking in the UK and US peaked to about 50 per cent in the 1950s, this had dropped to around 13 per cent in 2020-21 due to control efforts, said the study. However, historically high smoking rates are still a driving factor of the cancer burden in the countries today, it said.
Very high-income countries like the UK are projected to see a 50 per cent increase in cancer cases over the next 50 years, said Cancer Research UK, that funded the study, on Wednesday.
Researchers called on MPs to support raising the age of sale of tobacco products as a critical step to create the first ever smoke-free generation.
“Action on tobacco would have the biggest impact – smoking causes 150 cases of cancer in the UK every single day,” said Ian Walker, executive director of policy and information at Cancer Research UK.
“There are cost-effective tools at hand to prevent cases of cancer, which will save lives around the world.
“Tobacco control measures are chronically underfunded. And as a recognised leader in global health, the UK government can play a significant role in addressing this,” Mr Walker said.
The study also revealed at least 1.3 million people in seven countries die due to cancer caused by smoking tobacco.
At least 20.8 million years of life are lost from smoking tobacco alone, found the study.
It also warned new cancer cases could surge by five times, from 0.6 million to 3.1 million per year in low-income countries over the next 50 years.
“These numbers are staggering, and show that with action on a global scale, millions of lives could be saved from preventable cancers,” Mr Walker said.
Source: The Independent, 16 November 2023
See also: eClinicalMedicine - International burden of cancer deaths and years of life lost from cancer attributable to four major risk factors: a population-based study in Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and United States
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£3m worth of illegal vapes discovered during raid in Oldham
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said that yesterday (Wednesday, November 15), officers carried out a raid at an address on Victoria Street.
Officers located a quantity of counterfeit clothing, along with a "huge haul" of illegal vapes, which police said numbered in the thousands.
Police said the vapes had an estimated worth of £3m and that they had been seized, along with the counterfeit clothes.
GMP said vapes which are not regulated can cause harm to their users, as some vaping products can contain illicit or harmful contents.
In recent months, there has been a crack down in illegal vapes in the borough, with Oldham Council announcing earlier this month that its trading standards department had seized almost £100,000 worth of illegal vapes and tobacco in five months.
Inspector Gareth Davies, from GMP’s Rochdale district, said: “Our partnership team is committed to keeping illegal products off our streets.
We will continue to take proactive action to tackle illegal vaping products and ensure that these potentially harmful products are kept out of stores.”
Source: The Oldham Times, 16 November 2023
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MPs debate the King’s speech
On Monday the 13th November, MPs debated the health measures included in the King’s Speech. Below is a summary of what was said on the proposals to increase the age of sale for tobacco to create a smokefree generation and measures to tackle youth vaping.
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Introducing the proposals, Helen Whately, Minister of State for Social Care, states that raising the age of sale will prevent smoking uptake whilst not affecting existing smokers. It will keep vapes out of the hands of children whilst ensuring they are available for smokers looking to quit.
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Wes Streeting, Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, says that Labour MPs will vote in favour of the Bill.
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Kevan Jones, Labour MP for North Durham, also supports the Bill, saying that those with a mental illness have 50% higher smoking rates than those without.
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Maggie Throup, Conservative MP for Erewash, supports the bill and pays tribute to Javed Khan for his review into smoking and achieving Smokefree 2030. She adds that smoking will kill two thirds of long term users, so preventing smoking will save the NHS money and lives.
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Anna Firth, Conservative MP for Southend West, states that the Bill will create a healthier future for our children and would mean a more sustainable NHS.
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Robin Walker, Conservative MP for Worcester, says that the Bill strikes a balance between public health and individual freedoms.
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Mary Kelly Foy, Labour MP for the City of Durham and Vice-Chair of the APPG on smoking and health, supports the Bill saying that smoking is the largest driver of inequalities. She also raised the recently published APPG manifesto for a Smokefree Future which recommends implementing a “polluter pays” levy.
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Mel Stride, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, says that he also supports a Smokefree Future.
Source: Hansard, 13 November 2023
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Quitting smoking cuts your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 30–40%
A new brief, jointly developed by WHO, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the University of Newcastle, unveils that quitting smoking can lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 30–40%.
Quitting smoking not only reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes but also substantially improves the management and reduces the risk of diabetes complications. Evidence suggests that smoking influences the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels, which can cause type 2 diabetes.
“The International Diabetes Federation strongly encourages people to stop smoking to reduce their risk of diabetes and, if they have diabetes, help avoid complications. We call on governments to introduce policy measures that will discourage people from smoking and remove tobacco smoke from all public spaces,” explains Prof. Akhtar Hussain, President of the International Diabetes Federation. You can read the brief here.
Source: World Health Organization, 14 November 2023
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