"Smoking Posed Threats, Warns Munich Physician"

In the ongoing fight against cancer, the LMU clinics in Munich are participating in the national cancer prevention week from September 1st to 7th. The theme of the week is not smoking, and the team at the tobacco ambulatory clinic is working tirelessly to help people quit nicotine products.

Since 2010, Dr. Andrea Rabenstein has been active in the tobacco ambulatory clinic of the LMU. She expresses concern about modern nicotine products, particularly among young people. "Smoking is not considered a lifestyle," she says, "but a disease, as tobacco dependence is."

Dr. Rabenstein wants to help people give up nicotine products, and the clinic offers a combination of medication and behavioral therapy to clients who are positively supported in their endeavor to quit. The chemical preparation of these products allows nicotine to enter the body effectively, but it's important to note that all these new nicotine products are addictive.

It usually takes five attempts to quit before achieving permanent abstinence from nicotine products. Since May, health insurance companies have been covering the costs for quitting smoking with a certificate of severe tobacco dependence. This is a significant step towards making quitting more accessible for those who need it.

Prof. Dr. Volker Heinemann of the LMU Cancer Center emphasizes the importance of prevention, aiming to prevent cancer from occurring in the first place. He is the Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) at LMU Klinikum Munich and highlights the goals of the national cancer prevention weeks by emphasizing cancer prevention starting from childhood and promoting awareness, education, and counseling to prevent cancer development.

Up to 40% of cancer cases could be prevented with targeted prevention measures, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Information and suitable contact persons about the consequences of smoking can be found at www.lmu-klinikum.de.

During the cancer prevention week, the organizers aim to start early in prevention. Dr. Rabenstein is particularly concerned about products like "pouches," due to their high nicotine content, often exceeding the allowed limit by the tobacco product directive. Vaping does not stand out as much in a children's or classroom setting, making it a potential hidden danger.

The team at the tobacco ambulatory clinic works in a motivating and ambivalence-strengthening manner, supporting clients in their journey towards a healthier lifestyle. By participating in the national cancer prevention week, the LMU clinics are taking a stand against tobacco dependence and promoting a healthier future for all.