Fight Back Against Lung Cancer/ Tobacco
For even more information on Fighting Back, please visit
http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/crfbtobacco
Fight Back Activity 1: Awareness
1. Ask if anyone knows what cancer is the leading cause of
cancer deaths in men and women? (Lung cancer)
 Give a prize to the person who answers correctly
2. State the following:
 In 2007, there will be 213,380 new cases of lung cancer
diagnosed
(Men= 114,760 & Women= 98,620)
 In 2007, there will be 160,390 deaths from lung cancer
(Men= 89,510 & Women 70,880)
3.
Pledge to Fight Back
CAN learn about tobacco’s impact on cancer by visiting
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/ped_10_1.asp?sitearea=PE
D
 I CAN learn more about what the Society is doing to help
people quit- like the Great American Smokeout
I
4. Suggested materials to hand out (Please work with your
staff partner to find out what materials are available):
 Cancer Resource Network Information Card
 Quitline Information
Fight Back Activity 2: Awareness
1. State the following:
 Smoking-related diseases are the most preventable cause of
death in the United States.
 Smoking accounts for at least 30% of ALL cancer deaths and
87% of LUNG cancer deaths.
 In 2007, an estimated 45 million US adults (almost one
quarter of the population) are current smokers while 46.5
million adults are former smokers.
 Each year, secondhand smoke may be responsible for about
3,000 lung cancer deaths in nonsmoking adults and an
additional 35,000 cases of heart disease in people who are
not current smokers.
 Half of all Americans who continue to smoke will die from
smoking-related diseases.
 Smokers who quit by age 35 will avoid 90 percent of the
risk attributable to tobacco.
 Smokers
who quit by age 50 reduce their overall risk of
dying by 50 percent.
2. Pledge to Fight Back:
 I CAN quit smoking and/or using other tobacco products.
 I CAN encourage others or someone I love to quit smoking
and/or using other tobacco products.
 I CAN email or send a hard copy quit postcard to a family
member or friend to encourage them to stop using tobacco
products.
 I CAN go to cancer.org to learn more about quit programs.
3. Suggested materials to hand out - Please work with your
staff partner to find out what materials are available.
 Visit RelayForLife.org for more ideas!
Fight Back Activity 3: Awareness
1. State the following about Smoke free Workplaces
 If all U.S. workplaces became smoke-free, per capita
consumption of cigarettes would decrease by an
additional 4.5 percent per year.
 As of July 2006 roughly one-third of the US population
or more than 100 million people are covered by strong
smoke free laws – a figure that has nearly doubled in
size in three years.
 As of June 2007, 22 states, Washington, DC and Puerto
Rico have passed smoke-free laws that include
restaurants and bars. The states: Arizona, California,
Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois,
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio,
Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and Washington.
Four other states – Florida, Idaho, Louisiana and
Nevada – have passed smoke-free laws that exempt only
stand-alone bars. Dozens of cities and counties have
also passed strong laws.
2. State Comparison of Cigarette Excise Tax Rates & Rankings
 Every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes will
reduce youth smoking by about seven percent and overall
cigarette consumption by about four percent.
 Overall All States’ Average: $1.073 per pack
 Connecticut- Tax $2.00 per pack (4th highest in country)
 Maine – Tax $2.00 per pack (4th highest in country)

Massachusetts – Tax $1.51 per pack (13th highest in
country) (Attempt underway to raise the tax by one dollar in 2008)
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New Hampshire – Tax $ 1.08 per pack (22nd highest in
country)
Rhode Island – Tax $2.46 per pack (2nd highest in country)
Vermont – Tax $1.79 per pack (10th highest in country)
(NJ is the highest at $2.575 per pack)
3. Call to Action/Fight Back
 I CAN join ACS CAN to eliminate cancer by supporting laws
and policies that will make cancer a top national
priority
 I CAN learn about risks associated with exposure to second
hand smoke and support local clean air policies
 I CAN visit www.ACSCAN.org
 I CAN encourage my workplace to become smoke-free.
4.
Suggested materials to hand out - - Please work with
your staff partner to find out what materials are available:
 New ACS CAN sign up & application
Fight Back Activity 4: Awareness
1. Have a Lung Cancer Survivor or a Tobacco related survivor
speak about their cancer journey and Relay For Life
experience. (3-4 mins)
2. Pledge to Fight Back:
 I CAN create a team theme on ways to fight back against
tobacco and secondhand smoke
 I CAN talk to my children or grandchildren about the
dangers of tobacco use
Suggested materials to hand out.
 Ideas for Team Themes related to Tobacco
Fight Back At Relay For Life:
Possible tools and activities: (Please work with your staff
partner to determine materials and activities)
 Use track signs promoting Lung Cancer and Tobacco and
Quitline
 Use messaging in podium manual in relation to above
 Quitters Lap/ Lap for those attempting to quit currently
 Smoke Free Pledge
 Handprint banner for children who pledge to be smoke-free
 Jars of Tar
 Sample Lungs
 Lung and Tobacco related brochures (Talk with your staff
partner)