Cancer Care Program

Comprehensive information about cancer prevention, screening, treatment, and care for Nova Scotians.

About Screening

About 6,000 Nova Scotians are diagnosed each year with cancer. However, many cancers can be prevented or found early, when treatment is most effective.

Nova Scotia Health Authority's Cancer Care Program is working with partners to influence policy and planning that makes it easier for Nova Scotians to adopt healthy lifestyles, such as:

  • Not smoking
  • Being physically active
  • Limiting alcoholic drinks
  • Limiting salt in your diet
  • Limiting the amount of red and processed meats in your diet
  • Avoiding tanning beds and practicing sun safety
  • Participating in cancer screening programs

Cancer screening is about preventing cancer or finding it early, when treatment is most effective, before there are any warning signs. Nova Scotia has three organized cancer screening programs:

  • Cervical Cancer Prevention Program
  • Colon Cancer Prevention Program
  • Breast Screening Program

Breast Screening Program

The Nova Scotia Breast Screening Program provides mammograms (breast X-rays) and information on good breast health care to women ages 50-69.

Statistics show that one out of eight women in Nova Scotia will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Very early detection of breast cancer improves the chance of a cure. The Nova Scotia Breast Screening Program has been developed to assist in the early detection of breast cancer. The program offers women information on breast health and mammography (breast X-ray).

Cervical Cancer Prevention Program

Cervical cancer is the 9th most common cancer among Canadian women.

What causes cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer is caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is usually transmitted by sexual contact. More than 75% of women will be exposed to HPV, but only a small number will develop pre-cancer (cervical dysplasia). Regular Pap testing can pick up pre-cancerous changes that can be treated before becoming cancer.

The risk of developing cervical cancer can be reduced by:

  • Using a latex condom
  • Choosing not to smoke 
  • Having a regular Pap test 
  • Not having sex at an early age
  • Limiting the number of sexual partners

The Nova Scotia Cervical Screening Practice Guidelines recommend:

  • Women who have been sexually active* should start having a Pap test at the age of 25. Once women begin having Pap tests, they should have them every 3 years.
  • Women who become sexually active* for the first time after the age of 25 should have a Pap test within three years of the time that they became sexually active.
  • Women who have never been sexually active do not need to have Pap tests until such time as they become sexually active.

* For the purposes of cervical cancer screening, sexual activity refers to vaginal sexual activity which includes vaginal intercourse, vaginal‐oral and/or vaginal‐digital sexual activity, use of shared sex toys/devices.

How often do I need a Pap test?

  • If the Pap test results are normal (negative or clear) women should continue to have Pap tests every three years.

When can I stop having Pap tests?

  • Screening may be discontinued after the age of 70 ONLY if there is an adequate negative screening history in the previous ten years (i.e. three or more negative tests).

Colon Cancer Prevention Program

What is the Colon Cancer Prevention Program (CCPP)?
The Colon Cancer Prevention Program (CCPP) was developed by Nova Scotia Health's Cancer Care Program with the goal of decreasing the number of colon cancer deaths in Nova Scotia by facilitating regular screening of all Nova Scotians aged 50-74. It is available across the province. The CCPP helps find cancer and pre-cancerous growths; if these growths are found early, colon cancer can be prevented.

Is the CCPP working?
It is! Since the program began in 2009, more than 10,000 Nova Scotians who did the test when they were feeling fine and had no warning signs, were found to have pre-cancerous growths. The growths were removed and cancer was prevented. More than 800 Nova Scotians were found to have a cancer, often diagnosed at an early stage when treatment is most effective.

What information does the CCPP keep?
We keep the information from the Participant Form that people complete with their screening test, the results of the screening test (FIT) so that we know who needs follow-up tests, and the results of any follow-up tests such as a colonoscopy. All of this information helps us to improve the program.

How is my information kept private?
We are required to follow Nova Scotia Health's Privacy Policy. This means that:

  • all program staff are required to protect your privacy.
  • the names of screening participants will not be used in any program evaluation or public reports about the program.

The doctor or nurse that you identified on the Participant Form will receive your results. He or she may ask us for the results of any follow-up tests such as a colonoscopy.

For privacy concerns please contact Nova Scotia Health's Privacy Office at 902-473-2626. To request a paper copy of the policy, please call 1-866-599-2267.

Can I opt out of the CCPP?
Yes. Simply check off the “Opt out” option on the Participant Form that you receive from us in the mail, or call us at 1-866-599-2267. This tells us that you do not want to participate in this program and do not want to be contacted again.

You can rejoin the program at any time simply by calling us at 1-866-599-2267.

How can I find out more about the CCPP?
To learn more about the Colon Cancer Prevention Program, call us toll-free at 1-866-599-2267.

Why does the Participant Form include the question "Are you a member of the following cultural/ethnic communities?"
This information will help us learn, over time, how colon cancer affects people of various cultural/ethnic communities. Evidence suggests that certain communities (for example individuals of African heritage) are at increased risk for developing colon cancer. These specific categories have been selected based on the Nova Scotia cultural competence guidelines and in consultation with other government organizations.

To get invitations/letters from the Colon Cancer Prevention Program, your name and address must be up to date with Nova Scotia's Medical Services Insurance (MSI). To update your information:

What is screening?
Screening can find cancer earlier by testing people who do not show any signs of the disease.

Why is screening for colon cancer important?
Regular screening is important because colon cancer can often develop without any warning signs. The goal is to catch and remove pre-cancerous growths (polyps) early before cancer develops or before it spreads. When found early, colon cancer is preventable and treatable.

How do you screen for colon cancer?
Polyps (growths) in the small intestine often leak small amounts of blood into the stool. A Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) can find these small traces of blood. The FIT is a simple test that can be done in the privacy of your home.

Who should be screened for colon cancer?
All healthy people aged 50-74, with no family history of colon cancer, should be screened every two years. Research shows that people aged 50-74 benefit the most from screening for colon cancer.

People with warning signs of colon cancer (such as blood in the stool or changes in bowel habits) and those who have a family history of colon cancer should talk with their doctor who will arrange for the most appropriate screening test based on their history.

How was I chosen to be screened?
Research shows that people aged 50-74 benefit the most from screening for colon cancer. In order to offer this crucial screening program to the people of Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness has provided the cancer care program with the names and addresses of people between the ages of 50 and 74 from existing Department of Health and Wellness information sources.

NSHA colon cancer screening kit

How do I get a screening test?
The Colon Cancer Prevention Program mails screening tests to Nova Scotians aged 50-74 who are registered with MSI.

When will I get my screening test?

Screening kits are mailed weekly based on a person's year of birth and date of birth.

  • If you were born in an even year (e.g. 1950, 1964), you will receive your kit in even years (e.g. 2018, 2020).
  • If you were born in an odd year (e.g. 1951, 1965), you will receive your kit in odd years (e.g. 2019, 2021).
  • You can expect to receive your kit shortly after your birthday.

What is the Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)?
The screening kit (FIT) can find tiny amounts of blood that are invisible. The test is easy to do. There is no need to change your diet and you can do the test in your own home.

  • Use the kit to collect a small sample of stool (poop).
  • Mail the sample to the lab, where it is checked for blood.
  • The results will be mailed to you and your doctor or other health care provider.

What does a normal test result mean?

It means that no traces of blood were found in your stool.

Does a normal test mean that I have no abnormal growths in my colon?

No. You may have a polyp that is too small to bleed right now, but it can grow, begin to bleed, and eventually turn into a cancer. It is very important to repeat the test the next time you get a kit in the mail. We will send you a kit every 2 years until you reach the age of 75. The kit will arrive in the mail shortly after you have an 'even' birthday (for example, at ages 56 or 64 or 72).

What does an abnormal test result mean?

An abnormal test means that traces of blood were found in your stool sample, but it does NOT mean you have cancer. In Nova Scotia, 60% of people with an abnormal test have the kind of polyps we are looking for, but very few are found to have cancer. Others with abnormal tests are found to have different causes of bleeding that are likely to need some form of treatment. If blood is found, we will contact you to book a colonoscopy. During this test the lining of the colon is checked to find the cause of the bleeding. If the screening test finds a colon cancer before it causes symptoms, treatment is much more effective.

Do all polyps become cancers?

No. Some kinds of polyps do not become cancers. Not even all adenomas will become a cancer. If we find and remove all the polyps that have a chance of becoming cancer, we can stop cancer before it starts!

Is there anything I can do to prevent colon cancer or to find it at an early stage?

Eat a healthy diet. Don't drink too much alcohol. Limit the amount of red and processed meat you eat. Be physically active. Unfortunately, even the healthiest lifestyle does not provide complete protection. The most effective way to prevent colon cancer, or to find it at an early stage, is the home screening test every 2 years.

What if I do not have any symptoms and no one in my family has colon cancer?

Most Nova Scotians who get colon cancer do not have a family history of the disease. Most people do not have symptoms when the disease is in the early stages. So, if you have no symptoms and no family history, now is the time to take the test!

What if I already have symptoms?

If you have any of the following symptoms, you should see your health care provider:

  • Often see blood mixed with your stool.
  • Have a change in your bowel habit that lasts for more than a few weeks.
  • Have any other worrying symptoms.

ColonoscopyWhat is a colonoscopy?
A long, flexible tube (scope) is slowly guided into your colon through your rectum. You are given medication to keep you from feeling much discomfort. The scope sends a picture of the inside of the colon to a video screen.

A doctor examines the lining of the colon and can remove polyps using tiny tools passed through the scope. For most people, a colonoscopy is a straightforward procedure; however, on rare occasion, some people may have bleeding or other complications such as a perforation (tear) that may require a hospital stay.

Illustration courtesy of CancerCare Manitoba (https://www.cancercare.mb.ca/).

Lung Screening Program

The Lung Screening Program is a new screening program in Nova Scotia. It is currently available to people in Central Zone, which includes:

  • Halifax
  • Dartmouth
  • Bedford
  • Sackville
  • Eastern Shore
  • West Hants

The program will eventually be available across the province. 

Nova Scotia’s Lung Screening Program is for people who want to reduce their lung cancer risk. Being screened is a step you can take for your health. Getting screened can save lives. Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers. It is the most common cause of cancer death in Nova Scotia. We are here to help.

Who can be screened? 

  • Are you between 50 and 74 years old?
  • Have you been smoking cigarettes every day for at least 20 years? 
  • Or, are you a former smoker who smoked cigarettes every day for at least 20 years? (The 20 years of smoking does not have to be 20 years in a row. There could be times when you did not smoke.)

How does the program work?

If you answered yes to the questions above, you should call the Lung Screening Program. You can call the program toll-free at 1-833-505-LUNG (5864). You will be asked to leave your name and phone number. Someone will call you to arrange a telephone appointment with a screening nurse navigator. The nurse navigator is a specially trained nurse. They will talk with you, ask you questions and answer your questions to help identify next steps for you. 

The next steps may include: 

  1. Asking more questions to determine if you are at very high risk of getting lung cancer 
  2. Providing you with help to stop smoking if you would like to try to quit
  3. Talking to you about the risks and benefits of screening with a chest CT scan 
  4. Discussing if chest CT screening is right for you 

You will get information about ways to lower your risk of lung cancer. You will learn about the early signs of the disease. 

Smoking is the number one risk for lung cancer. Everyone who calls the program will be asked if they smoke. If you say yes, you will be offered information to help you quit if you are interested. Even if you are not interested in quitting smoking, you can still take part in the Lung Screening Program. 

Learn more or self-refer:

You may be interested in these education pamphlets:

 

Are you interested in quitting smoking?

Tobacco Free Nova Scotia offers free behavioural counseling and can support you with issues such as cravings and withdrawal, or just to talk. When you are ready, they can help you design a personal quit plan. Call 811 to get started on your quit journey.  

General questions about the Lung Screening Program

Lung cancer is a cancer that starts in the lungs. Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in Nova Scotia.

Lung screening is about looking for lung cancer when you are feeling well and have no warning signs or symptoms. The goal is to find lung cancer early when treatment works best.

The Lung Screening Program is for people who do not have symptoms. The wait time for the program can be very long, and different testing is needed if you have symptoms.

If you have symptoms, do not call the program. Talk to your primary health care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner). If you do not have a primary health care provider, you can register with Virtual Care NS to meet with a doctor or nurse practitioner online.

Warning signs or symptoms of lung cancer may include:

  • Cough that does not go away
  • Coughing up blood (even a small amount)
  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Hoarse voice
  • Losing weight without trying
  • Bone pain
  • Headache that does not go away

The Lung Screening Program is operated by Nova Scotia Health’s Cancer Care Program. The goals are to:

  • Prevent lung cancer
  • Find lung cancer early, when treatment works best

Contacting the Lung Screening Program is a step you can take for your health. The program has three parts:

  • Information about improving your lung health
  • Supports for smokers who are interested in quitting
  • A CT (computed tomography) scan for people who are at very high risk for lung cancer

About half of all people who call the program are not found to be at very high risk for lung cancer. If you are not at a very high risk for lung cancer, you will not benefit from a CT scan and will not be offered one.

If you have no worrying symptoms, are between 50 and 74 years old and have smoked daily for 20 years or more, please call the Lung Screening Program. You can call toll-free at 1-833-505-LUNG (5864).

If you are between 50 and 74 years old and have stopped smoking but did smoke daily for 20 years or more, please call the program.

When you call the program, you may have to leave your name and phone number. A staff member will call you back to book a phone appointment with a nurse navigator (a nurse with special training).

The nurse navigator will ask questions to find out your risk for lung cancer. They will explain the best next steps for you and answer your questions to help you make decisions.

We will offer you information about improving your lung health. If you smoke, we will offer you information about stopping smoking, if you want to quit. Smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer.

About half of people who call the program are found not to be at very high risk for lung cancer. They will not benefit from a CT scan and will not be offered one.

For now, the Lung Screening Program is available in Central Zone, which includes:

  • Halifax
  • Dartmouth
  • Bedford
  • Sackville
  • Eastern Shore
  • West Hants

The program will eventually be available across the province.

You can call the Lung Screening Program if you:

  • Are between 50 and 74 years old
  • Live in Central Zone
  • Do not have any symptoms of lung cancer
  • Have smoked daily for 20 years or more at some point in your life, whether or not you still smoke

Phone (toll-free): 1-833-505-LUNG (5864)

You will be offered information about lung cancer and ways to protect your lung health. A nurse navigator will ask questions to figure out your risk for lung cancer.

If you are found to be at very high risk for lung cancer, you will be offered a CT scan. The nurse navigator will talk with you about the benefits and risks of a CT scan. If you choose to have one, the nurse navigator will book your appointment.

About half of all people who call the program will be found to not be at very high risk for lung cancer. This means they will not benefit from a CT scan and will not be offered one.

If you smoke, we will offer you information and supports about stopping smoking. Smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer.

  • Lung cancer screening aims to find small lung cancers, often 10 years before warning signs or symptoms.
  • Treatment for early lung cancer involves removing a part of a lung. Many people have pain and shortness of breath after this surgery. Treatment is more dangerous as we age and recovery takes longer. We always need to be careful that we are not doing more harm than good.
  • The Canadian Task Force on Preventative Health Care recommends that people older than 74 do not undergo lung cancer screening. The reason is that for older people, the risks of screening may outweigh the benefits. As we learn more through research, our program will adjust.

Smoking is the number-one risk factor for lung cancer. It is never too late to benefit from quitting smoking. Ask your doctor for help to stop smoking or call 811 from anywhere in Nova Scotia to reach Tobacco-Free Nova Scotia, our provincial quit line. There is no cost to you for this service. Speak with a certified smoking-cessation counsellor, get help with issues like cravings and withdrawal and, when you are ready, develop a quit plan that is right for you. You may also want to talk to a health care provider for more information.

The Lung Screening Program is a new screening program. We are making it available one zone at a time, so we can learn what works and what changes are needed. The goal is to make the screening program as safe as it can be.

Lung screening looks for cancer before you have signs and symptoms. If you have symptoms and you are concerned about lung cancer, talk with your primary health care provider. For information about signs and symptoms of lung cancer, please see question 3.

Smoking is the number-one risk factor for lung cancer. It is never too late to benefit from quitting smoking. Ask your doctor for help to stop smoking or call 811 from anywhere in Nova Scotia to reach Tobacco-Free Nova Scotia, our provincial quit line. There is no cost to you for this service. Speak with a certified smoking-cessation counsellor, get help with issues like cravings and withdrawal and, when you are ready, develop a quit plan that is right for you.

Questions about lung cancer risks

Smoking is the number one risk factor for developing lung cancer. Your risk for lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes, cigars, and pipes smoked and the number of years you have smoked.

It is never too late to benefit from stopping smoking. Stopping smoking at any age lowers your risk of developing lung cancer and many other cancers.

  • Being around second-hand smoke
  • Radiation therapy to the chest
  • Environmental risks (like being exposed to chemicals at work or radon gas in your home)
  • Family history
  • Age

There are also other risks that we are just learning about.

Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in the ground. You cannot see, smell, or taste it. Radon can get into buildings through cracks and holes. Over time, breathing in high levels of radon can cause lung cancer.

There are tests that can measure the amount of radon in your home. If a test shows high levels of radon:

  • You can temporarily lower the amount by opening the windows as much as possible.
  • There are companies that can do work to lower the levels.

The only way to know if you’ve been exposed to radon is to test your home for its presence.

Lung cancer screening with CT is useful for people who are at very high risk of lung cancer because of smoking.

There are risks with CT screening and we do not know if it is safe to screen people who are at risk because of environmental exposures. Most people will not benefit from a CT scan.

Research is being done in Nova Scotia and around the world to learn more about the environmental risks of lung cancer. When we know more about measuring these risks and how to screen people safely, we may include environmental risks as a reason for lung screening.

  • Test your home for radon gas.
    • Temporarily lower the amount of radon in your home by opening windows and using fans to increase air flow.
    • Permanently lower radon in your home by:
      • Sealing cracks in basement floors and foundations.
      • Hiring a professional.
    • Find out more about dealing with radon.
  • Avoid second-hand smoke.
  • Test your drinking water for arsenic. Drinking water that has high amounts of arsenic raises your risk for lung cancer.

Lung cancer is much more common in smokers than in non-smokers who have been exposed to second-hand smoke.

Lung cancer screening with a CT scan is useful in people who are at very high risk of lung cancer. There are risks to having a CT scan, and most people won’t benefit from the scan. Non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke will have less benefit from a CT scan, compared with the risks of having the scan.

Questions about benefits and risks of lung cancer screening

If you are at very high risk for lung cancer, lung screening may find cancer early, when treatment works best. Lung screening could save your life.

Lung screening also has risks.

If you are between 50 and 74 years old and have smoked daily for 20 years or more, you should call the Lung Screening Program. A nurse navigator will ask questions to figure out your risk for lung cancer and whether lung cancer screening is right for you.

  • A false positive result (when a CT scan finds something that looks like a cancer, but after more tests, it is found not to be cancer). A false positive may lead to tests and treatment that you do not need.
  • Having surgery or other treatment for lung cancer that would not have caused any problems.
  • Having extra radiation. The radiation from a lung screening CT scan affects your whole chest. There is no safe amount of radiation, so it should only be used when needed.
  • Screening does not find all lung cancers.
  • Screening may find cancer too late for treatment to work well.

The nurse navigator will talk with you about these risks and answer any questions you may have. It is up to you to decide if a screening CT scan is right for you.

No. There is no cost to be screened for lung cancer. However, if you need a CT scan, you will need to pay for things like transportation and parking for your appointment.

The first step in lung cancer screening is a phone appointment with a nurse navigator. They will ask questions to figure out your risk for lung cancer. This will take about 20 minutes.

Your answers to the nurse navigator’s questions will help decide the next steps. If they find you to be at very high risk for lung cancer, they will talk with you about having a CT scan. They will tell you what is involved and answer any questions you may have.

If you decide to have a CT scan, the nurse navigator will book an appointment for you. The CT scan takes about 2 minutes, but the whole appointment (including registering and change into a johnny shirt) may take 30 minutes.

The CT scan will be done in a hospital. Your appointment could be delayed if other patients need emergency tests.

No. Screening for cancer is not perfect. But if you are at a very high risk for lung cancer, lung screening is the best way to find a pre-cancer or a cancer early when treatments work best.

If you are between 50 and 74 years old and smoked daily for at least 20 years (even if you have stopped smoking), you can call the Lung Screening Program to talk to a nurse navigator. Phone (toll-free) 1-833-505-LUNG (5864).

The nurse navigator will ask questions to see if you are at very high risk for lung cancer. They will answer any questions you have.

Questions about CT scans

A CT scan uses a computer attached to an x-ray machine to take detailed pictures of areas inside your body. A lung screening CT scan takes pictures of your lungs.

You do not need to do anything to get ready for this test.

Right now, the Lung Screening Program is only available to people who live in Central Zone. For now, all lung screening CT scans are done at the QE II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax. We are working with other hospitals to eventually have lung screening available across the province.

No. CT scans do not benefit everyone, and there are risks with having a CT scan (see question 18).

Only people who are found to be at very high risk for lung cancer will be offered a CT scan.

A lung CT scan takes a picture of your lungs. The scan is free, quick, and doesn’t hurt.

A lung CT scan happens at a hospital. At the hospital, you will be asked to change into a hospital gown or johnny shirt.

You will lie on a table with your arms raised over your head, if possible. The table will move so the scanner is over your chest. The scanner is shaped like a doughnut. You will be asked to hold your breath for a few seconds while the scan is happening. Then, a small amount of radiation will be used to take pictures of your lungs.

The scan itself takes about 10 seconds. You don’t need to take any medications. You won’t get any needles.

A radiologist (a doctor who specializes in reading medical images) will review the scan and decide on next steps.

You will get a letter that explains your results and next steps. Your primary health care provider (if you have one) will also get a letter explaining your results and next steps.

If you need any follow-up tests, a nurse navigator will call you.

We try to have results ready within 7 days (1 week), but it may take longer. It is important to have a radiologist with special lung cancer training look at the scans. Your scan may need to be reviewed by 2 radiologists. The goal is to ensure all scans are reviewed carefully and accurately.

Yes, this is possible. As you get older, your risk of lung cancer increases. If you do not qualify for a lung CT this time, the nurse navigator will let you know if screening may be right for you in the future.

The Lung Screening Program looks for cancer in people who are feeling well and have no symptoms. It is important to make sure that the benefits of screening (finding lung cancer early when treatment works best) outweigh any risks. The nurse navigator will ask many questions to decide if the benefits for you to have a CT scan outweigh the risks.

Lung cancer screening with a CT scan is useful in people who are at very high risk for lung cancer. The test is less helpful for people who at lower risk of lung cancer.

About half of people who call the program will not be offered a CT scan. This is because for them, the risks of a CT scan are higher than the benefits. There are many reasons why a CT scan may not be the right choice for someone. If you would not benefit from a CT scan, the nurse navigator will explain the why.

If you would not benefit from CT scan now, you may qualify in the future. The nurse navigator will give you more information.

If your risk for lung cancer is not high enough to need a CT scan, it does not mean you will not get lung cancer. It means you are less likely to get lung cancer.

Questions about smoking and support to quit smoking

Everyone who calls the Lung Screening Program will be asked if they smoke, or if they have smoked in the past. Smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer. Knowing your smoking history will help your nurse navigator decide the next steps that are right for you.

Yes. If you smoke, we will offer you information about supports for stopping smoking, if you are interested. We know it is hard to quit smoking and we are here to help in any way we can. If you do not want to stop smoking, you can still call the program and find out if lung cancer screening is right for you.

Yes. The nurse navigator can tell you about the supports available to help you stop smoking.

With your consent, they can also refer you to Tobacco Free Nova Scotia. Once they send a referral, a tobacco cessation counsellor will call you. They will work with you to make a plan and help you as needed. For more information, visit Tobacco Free Nova Scotia.

Quitting smoking is hard for many reasons. Tobacco has nicotine in it, which is very addictive. Your addiction to nicotine can get stronger the longer you smoke and the more you smoke.

Stopping smoking can cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, like:

  • Feeling irritated
  • Having a hard time sleeping
  • Having a hard time concentrating
  • Gaining weight

Smoking can become part of your routine. You may have to change your routine to avoid triggers (like having a cigarette during a break at work, after a meal, or with a cup of coffee).

You may smoke to help with boredom, stress, or sadness.

Everyone is different. What works for one person may not work for someone else.

Studies have shown that combining ‘quit aids’ with counselling works best. ‘Quit aids’ include medications like Champix® (varenicline) and Zyban® (bupropion). Another type of ‘quit aid’ is nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).

‘Quit aids’ are medications that can lower your cravings for nicotine. They can help you stop smoking. Some ‘quit aids’ like Champix® (varenicline) and Zyban® (bupropion) need a prescription. Others, like nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), do not need a prescription.

Smoking cessation counsellors have special training in nicotine addiction. They can support you to stop smoking by:

  • Giving you tools (like a quit plan) to help you change your behaviour
  • Helping you understand your triggers and how to cope with them
  • Answering your questions and referring you to other community supports, if needed