Qatar Cancer Society continues its efforts to raise awareness and has launched an electronic campaign “Time to Quit” in the framework of World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), May 31.

It aims to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco and emphasize the importance of quitting smoking and to promote a healthy lifestyle to prevent the habit. Heba Nassar, head of the Health Education Department at QCS, said, “The awareness campaign via electronic platforms is within the framework of the preventive measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, by broadcasting awareness messages and videos related to the general health effects of tobacco, types of smoking and ways to help in quitting smoking.

“We are carrying out this campaign to raise the awareness in the community about the importance of quitting smoking, effects of active and passive smoking,” she added . Dr. Hadi Mohamad Abu Rasheed, Head of Professional Development and Scientific Research Department at QCS , said, “Smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer and according to Qatar National Cancer Registry (QNCR) 2016, lung cancer is the ninth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Qatar.

There were 50 cases diagnosed with lung cancer in Qatar, 80% of the cases in Qatar were males and 20% were females. 76% of the cases in Qatar were non-Qatari, while 24% were Qatari. 50-54 and 55-59 year-old were the highest age groups with lung cancer incidences. In Qatar, lung cancer survival rate from 2013 till 2016 is 24.24% which means 24.24% of lung cancer patients stayed alive from 2013 to 2016.

Source :The Peninsula

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