It is important to get support. Friends and family can help as well as your doctor or pharmacist. Using a stop smoking service can improve your chances of success.

Research shows that people who use stop smoking services are twice as likely to succeed than people who try to give up smoking on their own.

Stop smoking services have specialist treatment for people who want to give up smoking. They can:

• give you information about smoking and giving up
• help you prepare a plan for stopping and give ongoing support
• prescribe medicines to help improve withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings
• arrange weekly meetings where you can meet other people who are trying to give up

What are the health benefits of quitting smoking?

Whether you are living with cancer or recovering from treatment, giving up smoking has important health benefits. Stopping smoking will reduce your risk of:

• heart disease
• lung disease
• bone thinning (osteoporosis)
• smoking-related cancers, such as lung cancer and head and neck cancers.

Giving up smoking will:

• increase your energy levels
• improve your blood circulation
• reduce your risk of a stroke
• lower your blood pressure
• boost your immune system
• help improve your breathing or stop it from getting worse.