Is nicotine your master? Is tobacco eating up your cash? Do you want to regain control of your life? Need a little support? Make the smart choice and let the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) help you quit smoking for good with its new CANSA e-Kick Butt Programme. Tobacco use is the second cause of death globally (after hypertension) and is currently responsible for killing one in 10 adults worldwide. “Over 44 000 South Africans die from tobacco-related diseases annually and many more become ill from using tobacco products and inhaling second-hand smoke,” says CANSA CEO, Sue Janse van Rensburg. “Smoking is the main cause of lung cancer – which has one of the lowest survival rates of all cancers. The good news is that most of these deaths are preventable by giving up smoking in time – even better, don’t start at all.”

CANSA endorses responsible methods to kick this deadly habit, including the Allen Carr Easy Way to Stop Smoking programme as well as the Nicorette Kick Butt Support Programme. CANSA has also recently initiated its own CANSA e-Kick Butt Programme that has been piloted and tested by the few CANSA staff that still smoked and encourages people to make use of it to help quit.

The CANSA e-Kick Butt Programme consists of weekly emails from no-nonsense ‘Sergeant Kick Butt’ to encourage and help you through the week ahead. These emails will be sent over a course of three months. You also receive a downloadable 12-chapter e-guide that is filled to the brim with practical tips to assist you in your mission to quit smoking. In addition, you automatically qualify for a one year CANSA membership and will have access to all associated benefits.

During the programme you will be given access to a private Facebook Group where participants in the programme will be able to share their insights, struggles and successes with one another. You will also have online access to a registered clinical psychologist. Each participant in the programme qualifies for three sessions with a designated psychologist to the value of R750.

The cost of the CANSA e-Kick Butt Programme is R995-00. Nett income derived from the programme is allocated towards CANSA’s prevention and anti-tobacco campaigns in schools. For more info, please call CANSA toll-free 800 22 66 22 or kickbutt@cansa.org.za.

About CANSACANSA offers a unique integrated service to the public and all people affected by cancer. As a leading role-player in cancer research (R4,5 million spent annually), the scientific findings and knowledge gained from our research are used to realign our health programmes as well as strengthen our watchdog role to the greater benefit of the public.

Our wide-reaching health programme includes prevention and education campaigns, patient care and support in the form of 11 Interim Homes and the main metropolitan areas plus one hospitium (based in Polokwane) for out-of-town cancer patients, support centres that offer stoma and lymphoedema clinics, medical equipment hire, toll-free line and support to children and their families affected by cancer. CANSA gives out free Cancer Coping kits in English, seSotho, isiZulu and Afrikaans funded by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund

(For more information, please contact Lucy Balona, Head: Marketing and Communication at CANSA or email: lbalona@cansa.org.za, call 011 616 7662 or cell: 082 459 5230. Or visit www.cansa.org.za or call CANSA toll-free 0800 22 66 22, or email: info@cansa.org.za)

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