Israel Cancer Association - Annual Report 2024

Online Campaign featuring Medical Specialists

Hatoum . The short videos were launched on Facebook and Instagram, where the experts explained the importance of early detection of colorectal cancer, with emphasis on family history, symptoms to watch for, and taking fecal occult blood tests.

A new campaign launched on social media includes videos featuring medical experts: Prof. Baruch Brenner, Prof. Zohar Levy, Prof. Ido Wolf , and Prof. Ossama Abu

The Fight against Smoking

'World No Tobacco Day' On May 31st, the Israel Cancer Association marked World No Tobacco Day along with the World Health Organization (WHO), a global awareness day emphasizing the health risks associated with smoking tobacco and nicotine, and the legislation measures found efficient in reducing the number of smokers. ICA Survey on Smoking Habits in Israeli Society In marking World No Tobacco Day, the ICA conducted and published data from a new survey examining the smoking phenomenon in Israel. The survey was conducted by Ipsos Market Research with a representative national sample of the population in Israel, among 560 men and women aged 16-60. The survey results were widely published in the Israeli press. According to the survey data, smoking in Israel is mostly based on regular cigarettes, but also on electronic cigarettes and a combination of both types. The rate of regular cigarette smokers is 22%, with smoking being more common among men (26.6%) and in Arab society (28%). The consumption of electronic cigarettes is at 14% and decreases with age, with the rate among teenagers and young adults aged 16-24 at 19%. Overall, 21.5% of Israelis smoke cigarettes and about 19% of teenagers and young adults aged 16-24 smoke electronic cigarettes.

More than half of the public is acquainted with people who want to quit smoking but are unsuccessful (52%). This figure is higher among adults aged 55-60 (74%). Nearly a third of the public knows a woman who continues to smoke despite her pregnancy. Among the smoking population, about two-thirds regret starting to smoke and approximately 72.7% would like to quit. The two main reasons preventing them from quitting are the sense of enjoyment that is difficult to give up and a long-standing habit. October 7th events were a trigger for stress and influenced smoking habits. About a third of the public knows someone who was motivated to start or return to smoking because of the war. About half of them are related to military service. Approximately 40% of smokers changed their habits due to the war: 12% returned to smoking, 21% smoke more, and 7% quit smoking. 60% smoke at the same rate as before the war broke out. 75% of the public is bothered by the smell of cigarette smoke, 90.2% among the non-smoking population, and 82.7% among women, and a relatively high figure of 45.9% among smokers. Almost everyone in the general population is exposed to smoking in public places (94.2%). The main areas where people are exposed to smoking are streets (66.8%), public parks (53.8%), restaurants and cafes (53.4%), and bus stations (48.8%). About half of the public avoids going to public places because people smoke there.

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