Smoking Cessation Unit

At the present time, tobacco is the most lethal substance and smoking is the most significant addiction factor. 1 billion people in the world have still been smoking. Approximately the half of smokers die due to a reason related with smoking, one out of every 5 people get cancer. The life expectancy of a smoker is approximately 10 years shorter than a non-smoker. In 21st century, it is estimated that 1 billion people will die due to reasons related with smoking, and this number is greater than the number of people dead due to any war, disaster or disease in the world, until today. Thus, smoking is the most significant epidemic in the world and it is defined as the first health problem, by World Health Organization.

The most effective method in delimitating tobacco usage is to enable prevention of starting smoking. It may be possible with only training the adolescents and younger adults, however there are several social and psychological barriers ahead of this approach.

A considerable number of smokers have started to desire stop smoking, with the harms of smoking have become well-known. However the dependence level of tobacco is so severe, only the 5% of the people who try to stop smoking without getting any support are able to be non-smokers at the end of the first year. A person who is determined to stop smoking succeeds after approximately eight trials, however a considerable part of them can completely quit smoking unfortunately after a severe health problem is developed. The success rate can be increased considerably with the help of persons and clinics specialized on smoking cessation support.

The contributions consultations and psychological supports to be provided for persons who try to quit smoking should not be underestimated. The success rate of attempts with the support of persons and clinics specialized on smoking cessation is two times higher than the attempts without support. Generally these clinics also provide pharmacological support, therefore they increase the success rate further.

The major purposes are to remind people the significance of smoking cessation and its benefits and corroborating these information with clinic visits and phone calls, to embody their reasons for smoking cessation and to teach and support the methods for coping with the nicotine deprivation symptoms above all. Especially the group meetings are observed to be effective on improving motivation. Behavioral therapy may also be performed on people who failed after repetitive smoking cessation trials.

Smoking Cessation Unit of Hacettepe Oncology Hospital offers a fully equipped clinical service from the moment on that you decide to quit smoking, with specialized physicians, psychosocial support specialists and health care personnel, in order to help you in quitting smoking by providing the truest medical and professional support for you. When you apply to Smoking Cessation Unit with the referral document that you receive from the relevant health institution; blood examinations, breath carbon monoxide tests, complete health evaluations with consultations with other clinics and with monitoring methods are performed when deemed necessary, without charging extra costs. Following the required clinic examinations, the appropriate medical treatment and psychosocial support will be planned by interviewing.