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Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar Cancer Society has concluded its ‘Time to Quit’ campaign which sought to raise awareness of lung cancer within the framework of the ‘World No Tobacco Day’ (WNTD) on May 31.
Launched last May, the drive highlighted the risk factors that increase the incidence of lung cancer, methods of prevention and the importance of early detection.
Run through direct and virtual platforms, the awareness campaign included many events, activities, workshops and competitions with the participation of several government and private institutions.
Huda Al Yafei, director of Programmes and Events Department at QCS, said, “We are doing this campaign of WNTD to raise the awareness in the community about the importance of quitting smoking and the effects of active and passive smoking. It complements the awareness-creating role of the charity since its establishment in 1997 to raise awareness about cancer and correct the misconceptions about the disease.”
Smoking is one of the risk factors for lung cancer. The symptoms include a cough that does not go away or gets worse, chest pain that is often worse with deep breathing, coughing, or laughing, hoarseness, weight loss, and loss of appetite, coughing up blood or rust-coloured sputum (spit or phlegm), shortness of breath, feeling tired or weak, infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia that don’t go away or keep coming back and new onset of wheezing, she explained.
While there’s no sure way to prevent lung cancer, you can reduce the risk if you stop smoking, and avoid second-hand smoke if you are a non-smoker. Those who have never smoked are always at a lesser risk. She further advised to avoid carcinogens at work. “Take precautions to protect yourself from exposure to toxic chemicals at work. Eat a diet full of fruits and vegetables. Do exercise most days of the week. If you don’t exercise regularly, start slowly,” she added.
Dr Hadi Mohamad Abu Rasheed, acting head of Professional Development and Scientific Research Department at QCS, said that although the State of Qatar has made significant progress in the field of tobacco control in recent years, a 2019 study found an estimated 25.2 percent of adults to be current tobacco users. Around 85 percent of them were males and about 61 percent were non-Qataris.
The percentage of tobacco users is highest among young adults aged between 18 to 24 years old, followed by adults aged 25 to 34 and adults aged 35 to 44. Around 28 percent of all users use more than one tobacco product.
Doha
Qatar Cancer Society has concluded its ‘Time to Quit’ campaign which sought to raise awareness of lung cancer within the framework of the ‘World No Tobacco Day’ (WNTD) on May 31.
Launched last May, the drive highlighted the risk factors that increase the incidence of lung cancer, methods of prevention and the importance of early detection.
Run through direct and virtual platforms, the awareness campaign included many events, activities, workshops and competitions with the participation of several government and private institutions.
Huda Al Yafei, director of Programmes and Events Department at QCS, said, “We are doing this campaign of WNTD to raise the awareness in the community about the importance of quitting smoking and the effects of active and passive smoking. It complements the awareness-creating role of the charity since its establishment in 1997 to raise awareness about cancer and correct the misconceptions about the disease.”
Smoking is one of the risk factors for lung cancer. The symptoms include a cough that does not go away or gets worse, chest pain that is often worse with deep breathing, coughing, or laughing, hoarseness, weight loss, and loss of appetite, coughing up blood or rust-coloured sputum (spit or phlegm), shortness of breath, feeling tired or weak, infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia that don’t go away or keep coming back and new onset of wheezing, she explained.
While there’s no sure way to prevent lung cancer, you can reduce the risk if you stop smoking, and avoid second-hand smoke if you are a non-smoker. Those who have never smoked are always at a lesser risk. She further advised to avoid carcinogens at work. “Take precautions to protect yourself from exposure to toxic chemicals at work. Eat a diet full of fruits and vegetables. Do exercise most days of the week. If you don’t exercise regularly, start slowly,” she added.
Dr Hadi Mohamad Abu Rasheed, acting head of Professional Development and Scientific Research Department at QCS, said that although the State of Qatar has made significant progress in the field of tobacco control in recent years, a 2019 study found an estimated 25.2 percent of adults to be current tobacco users. Around 85 percent of them were males and about 61 percent were non-Qataris.
The percentage of tobacco users is highest among young adults aged between 18 to 24 years old, followed by adults aged 25 to 34 and adults aged 35 to 44. Around 28 percent of all users use more than one tobacco product.
