Smoking accounts for at least 30% of all cancer deaths and 87% of lung cancer deaths, making quitting smoking the single most important thing a person can do to lower his or her individual cancer risk.

Your doctor can help you take that step. In addition, Cancer.Net offers links to a variety of resources that can aid and support your efforts to stop smoking:

• Smokefree.gov provides information and professional assistance to help support the immediate and long-term needs of people trying to quit smoking. Created by the Tobacco Control Research Branch of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the site features an online step-by-step guide to quitting smoking. You can chat live with an NCI counselor during designated hours, in addition to speaking to a counselor over the phone at NCI’s national quitline, 1-877-44U-QUIT (1-877-448-7848). This program also offers the toll-free 1-800-QUITNOW (1-800-784-8669) to find help within your state. Resources are available in English and Spanish and may be downloaded and printed free of charge. You may also search for clinical trials that are enrolling smokers who wish to quit.
  
  
• The Smoking and Tobacco Use section of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website offers information on the health effects of tobacco, secondhand smoke, smokeless tobacco, and youth tobacco prevention, in addition to links to booklets and tip sheets on quitting.
  
  
• The American Cancer Society's (ACS) Guide to Quitting Smoking features information on nicotine addiction, the health benefits of quitting, coping with the psychological and physical addiction of smoking, preparing for your “Quit Day,” and resources to help cope with withdrawal, such as nicotine-replacement therapy and prescription medications.
  
  
• The American Lung Association’s Freedom from Smoking Online program, which is organized into seven modules, can help you determine your readiness to quit, learn stress management and relaxation techniques, substitute other behaviors for smoking, deal with weight control, and understand the effects of secondhand smoke.
  
  
• The American Legacy Foundation offers the free, online EX Plan program to help people stop smoking that was developed in collaboration with the Mayo Clinic. A printed manual is also available to download.
  
  
• Many communities have meetings of the twelve-step program, Nicotine Anonymous. This program offers group support and recovery using the 12 steps, adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous, to achieve abstinence from nicotine. You can search for a local meeting, find out how to start a new meeting, and purchase program literature and resources.
  
  
• Your local or state health department has information about classes and support in your area to help you stop smoking.
  
  
• Kick Butts Day is the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids' annual celebration of youth advocacy, leadership, and activism against tobacco. Visit the website to find this year’s date.
  
  
• MyQuit Coach, My QuitLine, and QuitGuide are applications for your iPhone that provide tools to help you plan to quit smoking, find support, and track your progress. Learn more about mobile apps.

More Information

Tobacco

Quitting Smoking

Cancer.Net Podcast: Quitting Smoking

ASCO Expert Corner: Questions and Myths About Quitting Smoking

Last Updated: August 11, 2011