© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Cancer Answers is hosted by Dr. Anees Chagpar, Associate Professor of Surgical Oncology and Director of The Breast Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven Hospital, and Dr. Francine Foss, Professor of Medical Oncology. The show features a guest cancer specialist who will share the most recent advances in cancer therapy and respond to listeners questions. Myths, facts and advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment are discussed, with a different focus eachweek. Nationally acclaimed specialists in various types of cancer research, diagnosis, and treatment discuss common misconceptions about the disease and respond to questions from the community.Listeners can submit questions to be answered on the program at canceranswers@yale.edu or by leaving a message at (888) 234-4YCC. As a resource, archived programs from 2006 through the present are available in both audio and written versions on the Yale Cancer Center website.

Anti-Smoking Measures Have Saved Millions of Lives

It was 1960 when Winston cigarettes sponsored the popular TV cartoon series, "The Flintstones." Four years later, the U.S. Surgeon General released a groundbreaking report spelling out the harmful effects of smoking, a compilation of the best scientific evidence at the time. 

That inspired warning labels and higher taxes on cigarettes, and smoking cessation programs. Now, 50 years later, researchers estimate that eight million lives have been saved. 

Credit R.J. Reynolds
/
R.J. Reynolds
Winston cigarettes advertised on the back of Woman's Day magazine in 1955 with the slogan, "Winston tastes good! Like a cigarette should!"
Credit Debora Cartagena / CDC
/
CDC
Cigarette packages began to carry a warning from the U.S. Surgeon General.

Yale University professor Ted Holford is the lead author of a study published in The Journal of the American Medical Associationlooking at the impact of America’s anti-smoking measures over the past half-century. He's found significant and steady progress. "In the first decade," he said, "the number of lives that were saved we estimate to be about eleven percent. But that’s grown, so today it's about 50 percent of where we would have been without any change."

Americans are also living longer. A 40-year-old man today can expect to live seven years longer. Women have added another five years to their lives. 

Holford measured how much of that was due to the fact that fewer people smoke. "This one single factor accounts for about 30 percent of it, in both men and women, which is a huge impact for a single factor."

Credit JAMA
/
JAMA
Life expectancy is up for both men and women, in part because many of them today were never smokers.

Diane Orson is a special correspondent with Connecticut Public. She is a longtime reporter and contributor to National Public Radio. Her stories have been heard on Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Weekend Edition and Here And Now. Diane spent seven years as CT Public Radio's local host for Morning Edition.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content