Quitting tobacco

Quitting tobacco is one of the best things you can do for your health, at any age, and free help is available.

Rosa: Hi, I'm Rosa. Quitting is one of the best things you can do for your health, at any age. It's hard, and you don't have to do it alone. Let's look at what helps.

Smoking causes many kinds of cancer, not just lung cancer. It is linked to cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, cervix, colon, and some blood cancers. Chewing tobacco and snuff also cause cancer.

It is never too late to quit. Your body starts to heal soon after your last cigarette. Over time, your risk of cancer, heart attack, and stroke goes down. If you have cancer, quitting can help treatment work better and help you heal after surgery.

Most people try to quit more than once before it sticks. That is normal. Each try teaches you something. Using both counseling and medicine works better than willpower alone.

There are medicines that help with cravings. These include nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges, and prescription medicines. Ask your doctor or pharmacist which ones are right for you. Many are free or low cost with insurance.

Vaping and e-cigarettes are not proven safe. If you vape to quit smoking, try to stop using all tobacco and nicotine products over time. Talk with your doctor about the best plan.

1-800-QUIT-NOW

Free phone coaching in every state: 1-800-784-8669. In Spanish, call 1-855-DÉJELO-YA (1-855-335-3569).

Text and apps

Free text programs and apps can send tips and support. Visit smokefree.gov.

Nicotine replacement

Patches, gum, and lozenges give your body nicotine without the smoke, so cravings are easier to handle.

Prescription medicines

Your doctor can prescribe medicines that ease cravings and withdrawal.

Triggers

Notice what makes you want to smoke, like coffee, stress, or driving. Plan something else to do instead.

Slips

If you smoke after quitting, do not give up. Think about what happened and try again.

• Pick a quit date in the next two weeks.
• Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW for free coaching.
• Ask your doctor about medicines to help.
• Remove cigarettes, lighters, and ashtrays from your home and car.
• Tell friends and family your quit date and ask for support.
• If you have smoked a lot, ask if you qualify for lung cancer screening.

Last updated: 2026-10-27. Medically reviewed by Veli Bakalov, MD, medical oncologist (October 2026). General education from Step by Step, the patient portal of HemeOncBuddy.