Quitting smoking could save 11,000 lives: report

Over 11,000 deaths caused by cancer could be avoided by 2037, if cigarette smoking in the country comes to an end in the next 10 years, reported the Finnish language daily Karjalainen.

In addition, over 15,000 cancer cases would be avoided. All together 22 per cent of new cancer cases would be avoided.

The estimation is based on Finnish Cancer Registry and National Institute for Health and Welfare calculations.

According to Karjalainen, the most significant reduction would be in lung and tracheal cancer. The deaths caused by these cancers would decrease by more than 10,000 over the period.

Smoking has declined in Finland for a long time.