Israel's Smoking Rate 30% Higher Than Global Average, Cancer Association Reports
Translated & summarized from Davar by baba
On International Lung Cancer Awareness Day, the Israel Cancer Association reported that 24% of Israelis smoke, 30% above the global average. The association predicts 3,100 new lung cancer cases and 2,000 deaths in Israel this year. The director general called for legislative action and urged smokers to get screened, while also advising young people against starting to smoke.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel's smoking rate is 24%, 30% higher than the global average, according to the Israel Cancer Association.
- Approximately 3,100 new lung cancer cases are expected in Israel by year-end, an 11% rise from 2022.
- The Israel Cancer Association estimates 2,000 lung cancer deaths in Israel this year.
- The association's director general called for stricter legislation and enforcement against smoking.
- A low-dose CT scan is recommended for early lung cancer detection in high-risk individuals.
On International Lung Cancer Awareness Day, the Israel Cancer Association revealed that 24% of Israelis smoke, a figure 30% higher than the global average. The association estimates that approximately 3,100 new lung cancer cases will be diagnosed in Israel by the end of the year, an 11% increase from 2022. It is also projected that around 2,000 people will die from the disease this year.
Moshe Bar Chaim, Director General of the Israel Cancer Association, called for immediate, strong legislation, including a ban on flavored tobacco, decisive enforcement, heavy taxation, and a shift in perception within the healthcare system. He urged current and former smokers to undergo a brief screening to potentially extend their lives, emphasizing that many smokers are victims of tobacco companies and deserve early detection and treatment.
Bar Chaim described the low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) scan as a non-invasive, painless imaging test that is more effective than X-rays in detecting early-stage lung cancer. He encouraged young people to avoid starting smoking, whether traditional or electronic cigarettes, and urged parents to actively combat the phenomenon for their children's health and future.
The LDCT scan, which can detect small tumors before symptoms appear, is included in Israel's health basket for individuals aged 60-75 who smoke a pack a day for 20 years, are current smokers, or quit within the last 15 years. Those not meeting these criteria can opt for the scan privately.
