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Smoking and Cancer

Lungs: Normal (left), Cancer (right)

Lung cancer has killed more New Zealanders than any other type of cancer. Before smoking became widespread, lung cancer was a rare disease in New Zealand; however, it is now the leading cause of cancer death. 

Smoking also causes other cancers including cancer of the mouth, throat, voice-box, gullet, pancreas, kidney, bladder, stomach, liver, rectum, anus, cervix, vulva, and penis. Overall one in four cancer deaths are tobacco-related.  

For further information please view our Information Sheets.