The American Cancer Society is marking the 36th Great American Smokeout on Nov. 17 by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day.

By doing so, smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life — one that can lead to reducing cancer risk.

Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the US, yet more than 46 million Americans still smoke. However, more than half of these smokers have attempted to quit for at least one day in the past year.

Quitting is hard, but those who smoke can increase their chances of success with help. The American Cancer Society can tell smokers about the steps they can take to quit smoking and provide the resources and support that can increase their chances of quitting successfully.

To learn about the available tools, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or go to www.cancer.org. You can also get information at the Lawrence County Health Department at 740-532-3962.